April 14, 2018 – Three groupe tests and the Q+ Pris de la Lorraine (purse €72,000, 2100 meters autostart, 17 European entrants) led a superb harness racing Vincennes Saturday.
The Q+ victory was earned by 3.6/1 Blues d’Ourville (7g Password-Pursuit of Charm) with Pierre Houel aboard for trainer Mme. Virginie Lecroq. Race time was a quick 1.11.4kr. 7.7/1 Attaque Parisienne (8f Hulk des Champs) took second for reinsman Sebastian Ernault and owner/trainer Franck Harel, and third was 3.8/1 Blue Story (7f Opium) piloted by Pierre Levesque. 37/1 Eldrick Boko (7m Cantab Hall-Radiant Lindy) and 7.4/1 Ange de Lune (8g Laetenter Diem) with owner/trainer Matthieu Abrivard up completed the top five
The Gr. III Prix Beaumanior (purse €85,000, 2700 meters, nine European starters) went to 1.13.8kr timed and 3.1/1 Diademe Blue (5g Gazouillis-Pepite d’Or Blue) with Mathieu Mottier up for trainer J.P. Mary. Catherine Dabouic-Mary owns this winner that defeated 2/1 Duke of Carless (5m L’As de Viretaute) and pilot Alexandre Abrivard. 4.3/1 Ezreal Jiel took third with Matthieu Abrivard aboard, ahead of 23/1 Disco des Molands and 8.7/1 Daniel Bon.
Five year olds were on stage in the Prix Henri Levesque (Gr. II, purse €120,000, 2175 meters, 11 starters) and the impressive 1.11.6kr timed winner was 6.1/1 Delia du Pommereux (5f Niky-Noune du Pommereux) reined by trainer Sylvain Roger and owned by breeder Noel Lolic. 18/1 Dragon des Racques (5m Love You-Quinte des Racques) rallied on the pegs for second driven by Alexandre Abrivard and trained by L.Cl. Abrivard. A pack of contenders were next led by 1.7/1 Draft Life (5f Ubriaco-Maflymede) handled by Eric Raffin for breeder/owner/trainer Louis Baudron. 4.4/1 Django Riff (5m Ready Cash-Rasta Perrine) landed fourth for Yoann Lebourgeois, trainer Philippe Allaire and owner Elisabeth Allaire. Detroit Castelets and Dreammoko were fifth and sixth.
Delia du Pommereux
The Gr. II Prix Hemine (purse €120,000, 2175 meters, three years olds – monte) went to 2.8/1 Fado du Chene (3m Singalo-Star du Chene) with P.Ph. Ploquin in the irons for trainer Julien LeMer and breeder/owner Claude Guedj. This one vaulted to the lead early and kept widening the advantage to score in hand timed in 1.13.3kr.The 7/10 favorite Ferreteria (3f Goetmals Wood-Avenue Victoria) in this race after four straight monte victories, was no match for the winner, and barely held second for Matthieu Abrivard, trainer Yves Boireau and owner Jean Pierre Dubois. 14/1 Fiore de Janiero (3f Vanishing Point) was third in a photo for Anthony Barrier and owner/trainer Franck Blandin.
The Prix de Chelles (purse €40,000, 2700 meters, 11 three year old males) went to 3.3/1 Fabulous Wood (3m Ready Cash-Qualita Bourbon) timed in 1.16.3kr and reined by Matthieu Abrivard. Yves Boireau trains this winner for Scuderia Winner and he was bred by Jean Pierre Dubois. 7.4/1 Falco d’Heripre (3m Goetmals Wood-Vedetta d’Heripre) held gamely second for J.Ph. Monclin with 5.2/1 Falcao de Laumac (3m Uniclove-Rangoon) third for Clement Duvaldestin.
Thomas H. Hicks