August 29, 2015 – Roxane Griff, albeit finishing third, and Ave Avis were headliners in today’s Paris-Vincennes program that included five groupe events and the Quinte+. Captain Crazy, Nene Degli Ulivi, Un Charme Fou, Villeroi and well-bred Calita Wood were also victorious. Race summaries follow.
The Gr. II Prix Victor Regis (€120,000, 2700 meters, 9 starters) for three year-olds went to 5/2 odds Captain Crazy (3m Quaro-Quick Scarlet) driven by Tony Le Beller for trainer Fabrice Souloy and Ecurie Le Tremont. The length winner was clocked in 1.16.1kr to defeat 29/1 Cahal des Rioults (3m Password-Plessie des Rioults) with Jos. Verbeeck up for trainer Philippe Allaire. 43/1 Chant des Sirenes (3m Opus Viervil-Nice Quenny) was third for F-P Bossuet. 1.4/1 favorite Cristal Money finished fifth.
The Gr. II monte Prix Camille Lepecq (purse €120,000, 2700 meters, nine starters) went to 1.2/1 favorite Nene Degli Ulivi (8g Uconn Roc-Maureen Lobell-Speedy Somolli) for Alexandre Abrivard. Vincent Lacroix trains this one for owner Joe Cachia. Clocked in 1.14kr (fractions 1.17.2kr at 1500; 1.14.8kr at 1000; 1.14.4kr at 500) the winner vanquished 3.9/1 Tess de Villeneuve (8f Goetmals Wood-Joie de Villeneuve) and David Thomain with 7/1 Roxane Griff (10f Tenor de Baune-Julia Mesloise) and Eric Raffin home third. Torre Crepin (8g Capriccio-Lanaka) was fourth for Adrien Lamy at 21/1. Roxane earned €16,800 today and that placed her career earnings at €3,003,818.
The Quinte+ (jackpot €3.2 million) today was the Prix de Neuilly (purse €65,000, 2850 meters, 17 starters) and the winner was Un Charme Fou (7m Love You-Ma Crown) at 3.3/1 odds and reined by Franck Nivard for trainer Franck Leblanc and owner Cl. Guedy. The winner recorded career victory 14 in 54 starts. Tina Jolie was a close second but was disqualified causing 4.3/1 Urus (7g Liwi-Trojka de Mai) to be placed second with Gabriel Gelormini aboard. Placed third was Rififi Nonantais (10g Kerido du Donjon-Info Nonantaise) with trainer/driver Romain Derieux up. Time for the winner was 1.13.1kroff rated fractions (1.14.2kr at 1500; 1.13.3kr at 1000; 1.13.9kr at 500 to mark).
The Gr. III Prix de Beaugency (purse €105,000, 2850 meters, 12 starters) went to pacesetter Villeroi (6m Oiseau de Feux-Pocahontas) for teamster Eric Raffin for trainer Sebastien Guarato and owner Pierre Pilarski. This 3/5 favorite held off 10/1 Tornado Bello (8m Jag de Bellouet-Enfilade) with returning to action Pierre Levesque up for trainer Mike Lenders. Dam Enfilade produced Prix d’Amerique winner Offshore Dream. Third today went to 37/1 Ugor du Beauvoisin (7m Olitro-Klea du Beauvoisin) with Alexandre Abrivard driving and fourth was 26/1 Very Nice Marceaux (6m Jag de Bellouet-Jolie Fortuna) for Pierre Vercruysse. The winner was timed in 1.13.2kr after reaching the 500 to go marker in 1.13.3kr.
Today’s feature event was the Gr. I Criterium des 5 Ans (purse €240,000, 3000 meters, 13 starters) and after three recalls and the scratching of Anna Mix that refused to start, the field finally was underway and during the course were four more disqualifications including favorite Amiral Sacha just as he was surging to the lead. Ultimately, J-M Bazire and his barefoot trainee Ave Avis (5m Kasaco Phedo-Magna Avis) prevailed at 13/1 for owner Ottavia Roffi-Urano. 1.8/1 Akim du Cap Vert (5m First de Retiz-Prima du Cap Vert) rallied to be second for owner/trainer/driver Franck Anne, also racing without shoes. 18/1 Africaine (5f Oiseau de Feux-Italienne) was third for Pierre Vercruysse and owner/trainer Jean-Etienne Dubois despite being impeded by the breaking Amiral Sacha. Athena de Vandel (5f Prince Gede-Maelia de Vandel) was fourth at 128/1 for Cedrik Megissier with fifth to the Tony Le Beller reined, Anders Lindqvist trained 102/1 Anette du Mirel. Time of the race was a sharp 1.12.6kr over the extended distance with solid fractions (1.14kr at 1500; 1.13.5kr at 1000;1.12.8kr at 500 to go mark).
The Gr. II Prix Uranie (€120,000 purse, 2700 meters, 15 three year-old female starters) went to the Jean-Pierre Dubois owned and reined Calita Wood (3f Goetmals Wood-Qualita Bourbon) at 4/1 and trained by Yves Boireau. This filly raced all of the contest on the outer and midway rallied three wide to the death-seat where she remained before surging to the front off the final turn. Once on the lead she held the front firmly under minimal urging. Calita Wood was timed in 1.15.1kr with steady, rated fractions. 23/1 Caline Elde (3f Laetenter Diem-OK Floride) was second for Mathieu Mottier ahead of 40/1 Cuise La Motte (3f Repeat Love-Onagra du Vivier) and Tony Le Beller. 4.2/1 Cere Josselyn (3f Kaisy Dream-Kate) was fourth for David Thomain and fifth went to 12.3/1 Couleur Citron (3f Coktail Jet-L’Aunou du Fier) for driver Pierre Levesque and owner J-P Barjon. The winner’s dam Qualita Bourbon earned $1,826,528 with victories at ages three and four in the Criterium des Jeunes, Prix de l’Etoie, Prix Roquepine, Prix de Selection, Grand Prix de l’UET and Criterium Continental. At five she was a game third in the Prix d’Amerique. In a stellar career she won 21 times in 31 starts. Qualita Bourbon has also produced Tast of Bourbon 1:55.1 ($263,105) and Quel Bourbon 1:53.2 ($35,392) and her dam Etta Extra (Florestan-Une Crown-Speedy Crown) produced Mara Bourbon 1:53.4 ($1,967,940) and Sam Bourbon 1:55.1 ($443,397).
Thomas H. Hicks