January 22, 2017 – 3.2/1 second choice Bellissima France (6f Blue Dream-Quanta Rosa Sun) tracked the pace before making a strong move in the lane to wear down 18.8/1 Tornade du Digeon (10f Jag de Bellouet-Herlane du Terme) to win the harness racing Gr. I Monte Prix de Cornulier (purse €700,000, 2700 meters, 16 starters) at Vincennes.
Owner/trainer/jockey Matthieu Abrivard piloted Bellissima France to a 1.13kr victory, well off the 1.12kr record set by Quif de Villeneuve.
Tornade du Digeon raced gamely for Eric Raffin, trainer J-M Bazire and owner J-Y Roze. 1.7/1 Bilibili (6m Niky-Quetty du Donjan) was third for Alexandre Abrivard, trainer L.Cl. Abrivard and breeder/owner Jean Pierre Barjon. 8.6/1 Attentionally (7f Jasmin de Flore-Intentionally) was fourth for David Thomain and breeder/owner/trainer Paul Viel, ahead of 4.7/1 Bird Parker (6m Ready Cash-Belisha) for Anthony Barrier, trainer Philippe Allaire and owner Elisabeth Allaire.
The exceptional event also honored last year’s winner Scarlet Turgot and her connections. She was on display pre-race and will be bred to Ready Cash in 2017.
Prix De Cornulier 2017 – Bellissima France (M. Abrivard)
Thomas H. Hicks