8.8/1 Banquiere (5m Quopeck-Ile d’Emerade) won today’s Prix Elma at Enghien for a purse of €50,000 over 2875 meters. 15 rivals contested the event timed in 1.16.1kr. 2.3/1 Bilfie de Guez (5f Vivaldi de Chenu-Quefie) was second for trainer/driver J-M Bazire ahead of 10/1 Betsy du Quenne (5f Quaker Jet-Mon Egerie) for David Thomain.
The Prix de Montsalvy (purse €38,000, 2875 meters, 12 starters) went to 87.2/1 Douce Ligneries (3f Love You-Ouragane) timed in 1.18.2kr for trainer/driver Bruno Marfigliano. 2.5/1 Difa Girl (3f Love You-Rifa Rainbow) was second for J-Ph Monclin, trainer Philippe Allaire and owner Mme. G, Poulsen-Allaire. 17/1 Daliemosa (3f Kaiser Soze-Jaldemosa) ended third for David Thomain.
Also at Enghien the €37.000 Prix de l’Authie over 2150 meters autostart drew 13 starters and the 1.1.1kr winner was 2.7/1 City Sees (4f Sam Bourbon-Dolly du Buisson) over 6.4/1 Comete (4f Niky-l’Aventuriere) for Mathieu Abrivard. Third was 5.3/1 Chimere du Goutier (4f Kaisy Dream-Queen Bourbon) for Cl. Duvaldestin and Ecurie Saint Martin.
At La Croise Laroche the Prix de Beaupreau (purse €18,000, 2700 meters autostart, 16 starters) went to 1.4/1 favorite Crossroads (4m Quaker Jet-Modesty) timed in 1.17.3kr for trainer/driver Thierry Duvaldestin and Ecurie Bresil. 45/1 Claudius Servinois was second with 15/1 Caravaggio (4m Quaker Jet-Nicotera) third for Julien Raffestin and Ecurie Mexique Ranch.
The Prix de Verdun at La Croise Laroche went for €30,000 over 2700 meters autostart. 16 rivals battled with the 1.14kr win to 3.9/1 Apollpn de Kacy (m Prince Gede-Nefertiti Kyles) with owner/trainer/driver Jorgen Westholm aboard. 4.8/1 Tiennov and 1.4/1 Vivaldi chased the winner to the line.
At Mariendorf Berlin the Prix Berthe Morisot (purse €5,000, 1900 meters autostart, 10 starters) went to the 1.16.9kr winner 28.6/1 Amigo Kievitshof (9g Jag de Bellouet-Armbro Pagan) for owner/trainer/driver Andre Schiller. 28.8/1 Dolomit R was second for Norbert Bierman ahead of 7/10 favorite Fiobana driven by Thorsten Tietz.
Friday evening’s top race was the Gr. III Prix de Joinville le Pont (purse €80,000, 2925 meters, 14 starters) at Cagnes-sur-mer. The 3/1 favorite Ugo du Nieul (8m Cygnus d’Odyssee-Harmoinie de Nieul) scored in 1.13.1kr for Romain Derieux, trainer/driver foir D.J. Rousseau, the owner. 11/1 Vicomte Boufarcaux (7m Oh James-Olympe du Boufard) was second for Gabriele Gelormini ahead of 15/1 Truman Dairpet (9g Biesolo-Heloise Poterie) for trainer/driver Nicolas Ensch. Favored 1.7/1 Sid finished ninth. Nicolas Ensch was been named to the FR driving team in an upcoming contest against Team America that will kickoff at Yonkers Raceway in March.
Also at Cagnes-sur-mer the Prix Radisson Blu Nice (purse €44,000, 2925 meters, 13 starters) went to 1.16.4kr timed winner the 5.5/1 Altea de Piencourt (f Ni Ho Ped d’Ombree-Moonlight Disques) for trainer/driver Junior Guelpa. 2.4/1 Bently de Raconis (5g Repeat Love-Bodomie) was scond for trainer Nicolas Emsch and owner Antonio De Sousa. 7.8/1 Bolide de la Cote (5g Quatre Juillet-Scarlet Pride) was third for trainer/driver Cl-A Mary.
Sunday’s Grand Prix de Paris has been moved to race six with off time of 10:20am US eastern time. The sports world will be watching Bold Eagle in his quest for the FR Triple Crown.
Thomas H. Hicks