December 5, 2018 – The Wednesday harness racing Q+ race was the Prix de la Ville de Royan (purse 50,000€, 2850 meters, 13 European starters) at Paris-Vincennes. Victory went to 10/1 odds Chistera (6f Qwerty-Medici) driven by J.Ph. Monclin for trainer J.P. Lecourt. This Pierre Levesque bred mare was timed in 1.13.9kr. The 9/1 Class Thourjan (6f Rolling d’Heripre) was second for owner/trainer/driver Anthony Dollion. Caresse (6f Ready Cash-Stefani Hanover) was third driven by David Thomain for trainer Bjorn Goop. 2.9/1 Coumba and 12/1 Chacha de Goutier completed the top five, with the exact order Q+ 2€ ticket paying 5,487€.
On the card was the Prix d’Houfleur (monte, purse 80,000€, 2175 meters, 12 starters) and it produced a quick timed 1.12kr victory for 27/1 Voltorb d’Oliverie (9g Mourofais-Betty d’Oliverie) with Franck Nivard in the irons for trainer Sebastien Houyvet and owner Serge Gabriel. The 9/10 favorite Beau de Grimoult (7g Pacifique Gede) was second for jockey Yoann Lebourgeois and third was 55/1 Uranium (10g Jag de Bellouet) with P-Y Verva up.
Earlier on the Wednesday Vincennes program was the Prix de Bourigny (purse 70,000€, 2850 meters, 11 starters) and that victory was earned by the 1.14.5kr timed and 3/2 odds Dostoievski (5g Ganymede-Nuor des Charmes) with trainer Jean Michel Bazire driving. Ecurie des Charmes owns the winner that defeated 7/2 odds Dollar Soyer (5g Phlegyas) reined by Anthony Barrier for trainer Gregory Thorel.
Tuesday’s Q+ was also at Paris-Vincennes in the Prix de Laon (purse 37,000€, 2700 meters, 18 starters) and the 1.14.4kr timed winner was 3.2/1 odds Elorious de Guez (4g Look de Star-Quazirette de Guez) reined by his trainer Jean Michel Bazire, for breeder/owner Ecurie Vautors. Second was 7/2 odds Eliot d’Ambri (4g Ti Punch River) for Yoann Lebourgeois and third went to 73/1 Euzo Viva (4g Kiwi). Completing the top five were 12/1 Enjoleor Leman (4g Hulk des Champs) and 118/1 Exil d’Erable (4g Coktail Jet) and the exact order Q+ payoff was 56,677€ for the 2€ wager.
On the same card was the Prix des Pyrennes (purse 50,000€, 2850 meters, 12 European starters). The 27/1 odds Mellby Drake (6g Viking Kronos-U.Don’t Wanna Know) scored timed in 1.15kr for driver Matthieu Abrivard, trainer Robert Bergh and owner Mellby Gard AB. 1.2/1 favorite Bryssel (6m Ready Cash-Spacelane) took third for trainer/driver Bjorn Goop, ahead of 7/1 Crazy Charm (6g Prodigious-Know How) reined by trainer Pierre Vercruysse.
Sunday at Vincennes is the next “B” race, the Gr. II Prix du Bourbonnais, with the top three finishers receiving an invitation to the Prix d’Amerique. The field will battle over 2850 meters for the 120,000€ purse and the lineup is shown below.
Thomas H. Hicks