August 20, 2017 – The 7/10 favorite Bugsy Malone (6g Ready Cash-Night Captain) was clearly the best in the Prix Montier (turf, purse €45,000, 3000 meters, 11 starters) at Montier en Der. He started from the back and raced that way for a lap before starting a following three wide move to the front with a lap remaining. Under little urging from Yoann Lebourgeois, Bugsy rolled to a huge lead stopping the clock in 1.15.6kr, quick for turf and the distance. Bugsy now has 18 career wins in 34 starts for €543,060 earned. Philippe Allaire owns and trains this winner. 2.6/1 Uniflosa Bella (9f Jag de Bellouet-Koctiflosa Gede) was second for Antoine Wiels and 24/1 Ugo Dacheux was third for Franck Ouvrie.
Bolt took the Cherbourg Grand Prix de la Clacere (purse €27,000, 2550 meters autostart, 13 starters) clocked in 1.14.7kr for breeder/owner/trainer/driver Christophe Gallier. Off at 1.1/1 the hard working six year old son of Prince Gede-Souvola led most of the way and just held off the late charge of 23/1 Un Cher Ami (8g Jag de Bellouet-Olygarchy) and Alexis Prat for a head victory.
Earlier at Cherbourg was the Grand Prix Credit Agricole de Normandie (purse €26,000, 2600 meters, 11 starters) and the 1.16.3kr winner was 4.3/1 Dorus Weil (4g Gogo-Parama) with David Thomain up for breeder/owner/trainer Antonius Wilderbeek.
Tomorrow racing returns to Paris-Vincennes as that great venue hosts four Gr. II events each with a purse of €120,000:
Prix Pierre Plazen (2175 meters, 8 three year old colt starters)
Prix Herve Cran-Maillard (monte, 2175 meters, 12 five year old starters)
Prix Guy Deloison (2175 meters, 11 three year old filly starters)
Prix Jockey (2700 meters, 10 five year old male starters)
Thomas H. Hicks