January 10, 2015 – The Gr. II Prix du Calvados/Prix Beachcomber Hotels le Mauricia (purse €150,000, 2850 meters, monte, 13 starters) went to the game 9/1 Texas de L’Iton (9g Cygnus d’Odyssee-Iliada de l’Iton) reined by jockey Franck Nivard for trainer Hughes Levesque and Ecurie de L’Iton. He scored in 1.13.8kr over the rain soaked cinders, the second straight victory that increased career earnings to €747,570. Fractions were modest (1.14kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.13.7kr at 1000; 1.13.9kr at 500). Ukerlza du Benjo (8f Blizzard Poterie-Jolie Abbevilloise) was a rallying second at 19/1 for Mathieu Mottier with Americaine (6f Chef du Chatelet-Marine Raudiere) third for Antoine Wiels and trainer J-P Marmion at 8.6/1 odds. Veloce du Banney and Tess de Villeneuve ended fourth and fifth. Athos des Elfes and Vivier de L’Oison were disqualified for miscues. Well regarded Ustinof du Vivier and Olmo Holz contested the lead early and for much of the event before both faded badly. Anna Mix showed nothing and was unplaced. Vagabondu Mag and Torre Crepin were in a dead-heat for sixth.
The Gr. II Prix de Tonnac-Villeneuve/Prix Beachcomber Hotels Dinarobin (purse €120,000, 2175 meters, eight entrants with one scratch – Coquin Bebe went to Cahal des Rioults (4m Password-Plesse des Rioults) timed in 1.13.5kr for teamster J-Ph Monclin, trainer Philippe Allaire and owner Olivier Henri Thomas. The winner was off at 20/1 odds. J-M Bazire’s Coquin Bebe was scratched and 2/1 favorite Cobra Bleu was disqualified for a late stretch miscue as he was trying to rally against the two leaders. Finishing second was 4.2/1 Cavalleria (4f Prodigious-Janga) for Eric Raffin, trainer Sebastien Guarato and Ecurie Castagniccia. Third went to 52/1 outsider Coup de Poker (4m Coktail Jet-Tacticienne) for owner/trainer/driver Christophe Gallier.
Call Me Keeper (6m Pine Chip-Eliza Keeper) led all the way to secure the Prix de ic-sur-Cere/Prix Beachcomber Trou Aux Biches (purse €66,000, 2700 meters, 15 starters), the Q+ race of the day (jackpot €3.15 million) , for driver Bjorn Goop, trainer Daniel Reden and Stall Zet of Sweden. The winner, off at 1.6/1 odds, was timed in 1.13.3kr off modest fractions (1.14.6kr at 1500 to go; 1.13.7kr at 1000; 1.13.7kr at 500). 11/1 Avenir de Blay (6g Hooper-Mirabelle de Blay) landed second for Tony Le Beller, also owner and trainer. Third was A Nice Boy (6g Niky-Pretty Perle) for David Thomain, trainer J-P Thomain and Ecurie du Haras d’Erable at 7.3/1 odds. Italy’s Radieux (6g Love You-Dordogne) was fourth for Mathieu Abrivard (trainer Kutfi Kolgjini) at 17/1 with fifth to 28/1 Alix Julry (6m Cygnus d’Odyssee-Malika Julty) and driver/trainer Jean-Paul Gauvin. The top five to the line raced without shoes.
Veteran class-masters met in the €88,000 purse Prix de Lille/Prix Beachcomber Hotels Paradis over 2100 meters autostart with 10 entrants. Swedish invader Your Highness (7f Chocolatier-La Belle Lady) secured victory at 3/5 odds for Franck Nivard, trainer Fabrice Souloy and P.V. Racing Stable HB. The win was her second straight at Vincennes and third in the last four outings. Her earnings are now €409,534 for this impressive 1.12.7kr timed score of honest fractions (1.08.4kr at 1500; 1.11kr at 1000; 1.13.2kr at 500). 2.2/1 odds Val Royal (7m Capriccio-Quarda du Rib) was second for trainer/driver J-M Bazire ans Ecurie des Charmes with third to 32/1 Ultimate du Rib (8g Dahir de Prelong-Kara Pellois) for J.Cl. Dersoir, Ecurie Rib and trainer Joel Hallais. 29/1 Nonant le Pin (9f Goetmals Wood-Blazing Janice) rallied late to nail fourth for Eric Raffin, Mlle. Stephanie-Catherine Lepetit and Scuderia le Pradine after getting away last from post nine and trailing the field until late. Nuage en Ciel (9m Daguet Rapide-Pretty Perle) followed cover and rallied for fifth driven by Roberto Andreghetti, trainer Souloy and Ecurie Fast Horse SRL of Italy. Dream Magic BE and Anette du Mirel finished sixth and seventh.
Thomas H. Hicks