January 15, 2016 – Philippe Allaire’s owned and trained Bugsy Malone (5g Ready Cash-Night Captain) easily scored for driver Yoann Lebourgeois in the Q+ (jackpot €2.4 million) Prix de Mauriac (purse €80,000, 2700 meters, 16 starters) timed in 1.13kr even thought this pacesetter drifted wide in the stretch. Fractions were even (1.12.7kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.13kr at 1000; 1.12.8kr at 500). Bugsy was off at 5/2 odds. 19/1 Bolide Jenilou (5g Kesaco Phedo-Melodie Jenilou) was second in a photo for Anthony Barrier with third to 16/1 Belle Bauloise (5f Ludo de Castelle-Sweet Pearl) handled by William Bigeon. 38/1 Berry Felin (5m Nahar de Beval-Krisma des Bois) was fourth ahead of 25/1 Baron du Chene (5m Goetmals Wood-Imperiale du Chene). A €2 exact order ticket paid over €25,000 (excluding jackpot).
The Prix de Bollene (purse €36,000, 2700 meters, 10 monte starters) went to 3/10 favorite Dhikti Vedaquais (3m Thorens Vedaquais-Marie Bianque) riden by Yoann Lebourgeois for owner/trainer Philippe Allaire and timed in 1.18.2kr. 8.9/1 Drole de Gosse (3m Gazouillis-Peur Bleue) was next for Franck Nivard with 23/1 Driverigo d’Eam (3g Rodrigo Jet-Topoze d’Eronville) landing third.
3.3/1 Peace Of Mind (7f Uronometro-Erica d’Alfa) with Roberto Andreghetti aboard took the €54,000, 2700 meter Prix de Ranes. 18 European starters contested this event with the impressive 1.13.4kr winner trained by Fabrice Souloy. 15/1 Voice Dream (7f Love You-Lovely de Paris) ended second with Anthony Barrier driving with 2.7/1 Valentine’s Day (7f Carpe Diem-Haie du Bauvatier) third and 14.5/1 Pancottina Bar (7f Varenne-Valuta Lavec) fourth.
At Wolvega this day the Grand Prix W.H. Geersen (purse €9,900, 2600 meters, 13 starters) was to be a easy race for well-respected Robert Bi. But, the 2/5 favorite could only manage fourth dealing with a 20 meter handicap for driver Robin Bakker. 37/1 SJ’s Junior and driver Stefan Schoonoven nosed out 20/1 Banker Transs RB and Nico d’Haenen for the victory with third to 24/1 Crizzly Bear and driver Jos. Verbeeck. The winner clocked in 1.15.4kr as was the second place finisher and the handicapped Robert Bi.
Thomas H. Hicks