Today’s Caen harness racing monte feature was the Saint Leger des Trotteurs (Gr. I monte, purse €150,000, 2450 meters, 13 starters) and another impressive victory it was for 3/2 odds favorite Dhikti Vedaquais (3m Thorens Vedaquais-Marie Blanque) for owner/trainer Philippe Allaire and jockey Joann Lebourgeois, timed in 1.14.2kr. 8.6/1 Diva Charentaise (3f Prince Gede-Jessie Charentaise) took second for Francois Lagadeuc ahead of 12/1 Dragon du Fresne (3m Saphir Castelets-Rosee des Bois) with Alexandre Abrivard in the irons for trainer L.Cl. Abrivard.
Replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UkuO4Eg54Y
Allaire posted another owner/trainer victory late in the Caen card as an impressive winner was Direct Way (3m Quaker Jet-Queen Flore), off at 1.9/1 odds for driver David Thomain. This Allaire trainee (he developed Ready Cash) scored in 1.15.9kr in the Prix de la Touques (purse €38,000, 2200 meters autostart, 10 entrants)
Another monte contest was the Prix Henri Balliere, a Gr. II event. The Prix Henri Balliere (purse €120,000, 2450 meters, 15 starters) went to an easy winner, as owner-Pierre Barjon’s Chanceliere Citrus (4f Goetmals Wood-Noblesse du Corta) scored for Alexandre Abrivard timed in 1.12.7kr at 5.1/1 odds. This L.Cl. Abrivard trainee bested 1.6/1 Clegs des Champs (4m Legs du Clas-Proserpine) with Damien Bonne up for Thierry Raffegeau. Third went to 5.9/1 Cocktail Meslois (4m Roc Meslois-Ocarina Meslpoise) with Franck Nivard up for Pierre Belloche.
Thomas H. Hicks