April 20, 2019 – The day’s initial groupe test at Enghien-Soisy was the harness racing Quite+ Gr. II Prix Casino Barriere (purse 100,000€, 2875 meters, 13 starters, all four year old mares).
The 9/10 favorite Freja du Pont (4f Quinoa du Gers-Parade du Pont) scored for trainer/driver Jean-Michel Bazire, her ninth career victory in 15 outings.
Race time was 1.16kr off slow fractions.
This began a great day for Bazire and increased this winner’s career earnings to 199,650€ for owner Albert Rayon. Celine Bazire bred Freyja du Pont.
11/1 Fanina des Racques (4f Ready Cash) was second with Eric Raffin teaming for owner/trainer Alexandre Buisson.
11/1 Fend la Bise (4f Prince Gede) was third with trainer Franck Anne driving.
15/1 Ferreteria and 107/1 Flore de Janeiro were next to the line.
The Q+ payoff for a 2€ was 5,542.60€ paid to 169 winning tickets.
The Quinte+ pool was 4,189,036€ and the total of all wagering pools on the Q race exceeded 8,562,000€.
Freyja du Pont
The day’s featured event was the Gr. I International UET Masters Series Prix de l’Atlantique (purse 170,000€, 2150 meters autostart, 11 at the start after scratching of Bold Eagle).
Starting from post 12, the 2.1/1 second wagering choice Looking Superb (6m Orlando Vici-Classical Pine) was just that for pilot and trainer Jean Michel Bazire.
The Norwegian invader, owned by Kolbjoern O. Selmer, now has three wins in 10 starts in France and increased his life earnings to 500,082€.
Race time was 1.10.6kr off honest fractions (1.12.1kr at 1000 meters to go; 1.10.9kr at the 500) set by 2/1 favorite pacesetter Dijon that ended sixth for Romain Derieux.
Bazire was away mid-pack with Looking Superb before a three wide surge to the leaders.
It was from then no contest. 3.9/1 Uza Josselyn (8f Love You-Tea Josselyn) vacated the Dijon pocket to be second with Gabriele Gelormini driving for trainer Rene Aebischer.
Tessy d’Ete (7f Ganymede) took third with Franck Nivard up, ahead of 38/1 Billie de Montfort (8f Jasmin de Flore) and 96/1 Valko Jenilat (10m Kepler). Then it was Dijon and 56/1 Cash Gamble earning the last checks.
Looking Superb
The Bazire team was back in action in the Prix de la Ville d’Enghien (purse 56,000€, 2150 meters autostart, 12 European fast-class trotteurs).
The 4.6/1 Bazire trainee Valokaja Hindo (8m Great Challenger-Hindo Enghave) scored timed in 1.11.4kr with Alexandre Abrivard aboard.
The Norwegian owned campaigner won for the eighth time in 13 starts in France and now has life earnings of 335,264€.
The Bazire trained Dreambreaker (6g Offshore Dream-Brooke Boko) was placed second and had Eric Raffin at the lines.
The 7/2 Prix d’Amerique starter Orlando Jet (6m Orlando Vici) was placed third for teamster Rudi Haller when placed fourth 6.8/1 Colonel (7g Goetmals Wood) was set back two positions. Nicolas Bazire teamed this JMB trainee.
Finishing fifth was 33/1 Usain Henna (9m Super Light) with Gabriele Gelormini aboard.
Valokaja Hindo
The prestigious Gr. II Prix de la Ville de St. Gratien (purse 100,000€, 285 meters, 12 starters four year old males) was next and, as expected, the 3/10 favorite Face Time Bourbon (4m Ready Cash-Vita Bourbon) prevailed but not after a long battle to gain command in the lane.
Bjorn Goop teamed this Sebastien Guarato trainee for Scuderia Bivans Srl, as he recorded career win 13 in 15 starts, now for 577,150€ earned.
Race time was 1.13.5kr, impressive because the pace was slow and Face Time came from sixth on the outer at the halfway point (fractions 1.16.2kr at the 1500 to go mark; 1.14.6kr at the 1000 and 1.14.3kr with 500 meters remaining).
4.9/1 odds Falcao de Laurma (4m Uniclove) was second for pilot Franck Nivard and third was 43/1 Fric du Chene (4m Nobody du Chene) for Francois Lagadeuc.
Face Time Bourbon
The Prix de l’Argone (purse 63,000€, 2150 meters autostart, 15 European starters) completed the fast-class action today and it went to 4.3/1 Alcoy (5m Ready Cash-Divann) for Christophe Martens, trainer Vincent Martens and owner Ceke Farm BVBA.
Off at 4.3/1 odds, the winner scored in 1.12.6kr to increase his career earnings to 208,732€.
He was impressive in defeating 5.6/1 Broadwell (5m Conway Hall-Boria) handled by Robin Bakker for trainer Erwin Bot and third finishing 6.8/1 Ghazi BR (5m Cantab Hall-Fiery Chip) that is trained by Jean-Michel Bazire and was reined today by Alexandre Abrivard.
Alcoy
Thomas H. Hicks