November 1, 2015 – Franck Nivard teamed 2/1 favorite Anna Mix (5f Ludo de Castelle-Ires) to victory in today’s €60,000 purse Grand Prix Andre de la Vaissiere, the 2875 meter distance handicap feature event at Laval contested by 18 European participants. The winner, that overcame a 25 meter penalty, is owned and trained by Franck Leblanc and was timed in 1.13.4kr. 2.2/1 Falcon Haleryd (6g Varenne-Falnos Bellona) ended second for Gabriel Gelormini, trainer Johan Untersteiner and Stall Invexbo AB. 106/1 outsider Succes de Vaux (9g Edcon Tilly-Idole de Brenard) was third for Michael-Gerard Baron.
The Prix Annick et Georges Dreux (purse €40,000, 2850 meters, 12 European monte starters) today at Laval went to the 1.13.7kr winner Bijou d’Auvillier (4g Kepler-Olive d’Auvillier) at 2.2/1 odds for Mlle. Caroline Cheradame up for trainer Joann Lebourgeois. 6.7/1 Talicia Bella (8f General du Pommeau-Illicia Bella) was second for Alexandre Abrivard and trainer J-M Marmion ahead of the 51/1 Valetta Strix (5g Going Kronos-Afrodite Sund) that is trained by Lutfi Kolgjini and ridden by Mlle Marie Bacsich.
The Prix Albert et Raymond Poitevin (purse €30,000, 2875 meters, 16 starters) at Laval went to 6.9/1 Capone Face (3m Ready Cash-Kingly Pride) timed in 1.16.6kr and reined by Franck Nivard. Franck Leblanc trains the winner for Antonio De Sousa. 6.3/1 Coeur Baroque (3g Offshore Dream-Joie Baroque) ended second for Damien Bonne with third to 3.9/1 Canari Match (3m Extreme Aunou-Ruelle d’Ostel) for teamster Frederic Prat.
Sunday at Berlin Mariendorf the PMU affected higher purses showcased the Champions-Serie (purse €10,000, 3100 meters autostart, 7 International starters) and the 1.15.9kr winner was 13/1 Wild Viking (7g Vikings Way-Walpurgis Crown) handled by trainer/driver Rudolf Haller for Stall Wieserhof. 1.7/1 second choiuce Indio Corner (6g Gigant Neo-Indira Corner) was second for Josef Franzl with 49/1 Charming Oreau (6f Eilean Donan-Oreau Hendrika) third for reinsman Benjamin Hagan and trainer Alle Lomar. The 9/10 favorite Oncoming Diamant (7g SJ’s Photo-Oruscha Diamant) was fourth with Detlef Fleischer doing the driving for trainer Gerhard Biendl.
At Nimes the Prix des Haras d’Uzes (purse €25,000, 2750 meters, 15 starters) went to 84/1 Trust Speed (8g Ludo de Castelle-Kitty Speed-Tenor de Baune) for teamster A. Barre timed in 1.19kr in the defeat of 4.2/1 Ultimate Love (7g Gros Grain-Kelly Charm) driven by Junior Guelpa. Third went to 5.6/1 Vormensito (6g Quatre Juillet-Carmensita) driven by Kevin Vanderschelden, trainer Yves Boireau and owner Jean-Pierre Dubois.
Thomas H. Hicks