December 5, 2015 – Today’s excellent program at Paris-Vincennes included two Gr. II and one Gr. II trotting events. The Prix Joseph LaFosse (Gr. II, monte, purse €120,000, 2700 meters, 11 starters) went to the 1.134kr winner, 9/1 odds Athena de Vandel (5f Prince Gede-Maelia de Vandel) that was teamed by Mathieu Abrivard for trainer Cedrik Megissier and Ecurie la Tour de Vandel.
The winner rallied late and drew off easily with second going to Americaine (5f Chef du Chatelet-Marine Raudiere) for jockey Antoine Wiels and trainer J-P Marmion. Americaine raced on or near the front throughout and held gamely ahead of third finishing 2/1 Apprenti Sorcier (5m Love You-Queen of Viking) with Camille Levesque aboard for Mike Lenders training for Ecurie Pierre Levesque. This one also was well placed and led into the stretch before fading. 9.7/1 odds Amazone du Dollar (5f Ni Ho Ped d’Ombree-Magalie du Dollar) was fourth for P-Y Verva and trainer Sylvain Roger. Fractions were even during the contest (1.13.2kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.12.5kr at 1000, 1.13.4kr at 500).
The card also included the Quinte+ (jackpot €3.8 million) Prix de Saint-Georges de Didonne (purse €90,000, 2850 meters, 18 starters). This victory went to the red-hot 7/10 favorite Viking Blue (6g Prodigious-Idole Blue) reined by Dominik Locqueneux for trainer Y-A Briand. The winner now has 19 wins in 53 career starts with earnings in excess of €265,000 lifetime. The comfortable win by Viking Blue was timed in 1.13.3kr off even fractions (1.14kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.13.6kr at 1000; 1.13.1kr at 500). 6.5/1 Venus de Bailly (6f Chaillot-Oceane de Bailly) was second for J-M Bazire with third to 18.9/1 Univaldi d’Aval (7g Vivaldi de Chenu-Kiss Me d’Aval) handled this day by Mathieu Abrivard.
Another red-hot performer took the Gr. II Prix Doynel de Saint-Quentin (purse €120,000, 2850 meters distance handicap, 11 starters) as Norway’s 3/2 favorite Lionel (5m Look de Star-Aurora Sign) scored in 1.14kr for Franck Nivard driving for trainer Fabrice Souloy and owner Goran Antonsen. Lionel rallied late to defeat 2.3/1 Ave Avis (5m Kesaco Phedo-Magna Avis) at 2.3/1 odds and teamed by trainer J-M Bazire. Third went to 8.5/1 odds, 25 meter handicapped Robert Bi (5m Toss Out-Up Front JM-Self Possessed) teamed by Robin Bakker for trainer Paul Hagoort for owner K.K. Bijkerk. Robert Bi closed with strength from a position at the back of the field until late in the final bend and he now has career earnings in excess of €900,000.
Robert Bi could be a force in the 2016 Prix d’Amerique. His second dam is the Bonefish mare Icefolly. 45/1 odds Athos des Elfes (5m Ganymede-Lazio du Bourg) was fourth for trainer/driver Joel Van Eeckhaute. Well respected Red Rose America was fifth, Africaine ended sixth and Backfire was eigth in the competitive field. Again fractions in this contest were rated (1.15.2kr at 1500; 1.14.5kr at the 1000 and 500 meters to go posts).
Relay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEAvwFapZlM
At Vincennes today the Gr. III Prix Vourasie (purse €80,000, 2200 meters, 13 starters, two year-olds) went to 13.7/1 Bombastic Design (2f Prodigious-Athenas Lucky Girl) handled by Franck Ouvrie for Denmark’s trainer/owner Kenneth P. Hansen. 3/1 Deesse de Gueron (2f Melchior Jet-Olivia) was second for owner/trainer/driver Franck Anne with third to 16.5/1 Diva du Mouchel (2f The Best Madrik-Perle du Mouchel) for the driver/trainer team of Franck Nivard and Franck Leblanc. The winner was clocked in 1.16.3kr finishing strongly off slow fractions (1.17.4kr at 1000 to go; 1.18kr at 500).
Also today at Vincennes was the annual Prix des Recontres Internationales (purse €22,000, 2100 meters autostart, claiming 15 starters), the driver’s championship for representatives of PMU partner nations. Victory went to the FR home team with Mathieu Abrivard teaming the 1.16.2kr winner, at 7.1 odds, Saxo de Breteil (9g Look de Star-Jayena de Beval) that is trained by Stephane Provoost for Ecurie Danover. Trailing the winner is a close battle to the line were Sage de Gueriniere (Zydrunas Vasilionka up), Rocco Darche (Juan-Antonio Riera Rossello), Rickshow (John DeLeeuw) and Rite du Bocage (Marc Huygens). No Canadian and United States teamsters were in this year’s contest.
Thomas H. Hicks