July 21, 2017 – Friday evening’s Hippodrome Cabourg Grand Prix de la Ville de Cabourg (purse €58,000, 2750 meters distance handicap, 16 starters), the Q+ race of the day and feature race, went to 1.2/1 favorite Cantin de l’éclair (5g Jet Fortuna-Noce Joyeause) in rein to jubilant Tony LeBeller for Ecurie Leclair and trainer Nicolas Catherine. The 25 meter handicapped Bugsy Malone (6g Ready Cash-Night Captain) at 4/1, set the pace for Yoann Lebourgeois and owner/trainer Philippe Allaire but held second after being unable to hold off the winner. 22/1 Yankee’s Photo (9m SJ’s Photo-Yankee Tracer_ was third for Franck Nivard and trainer Bjorn Gulbransen. Alienor du Godrel and Venkatesh were fourth and fifth.
The Cabourg action also highlighted monte trots. The secondary feature at Cabourg was the Prix Fandango (monte, purse €54,000, 2750 meters, 15 starters) and Catalogne (5f Cygnus d’Odyssee-Jabadie) scored, timed in 1.12.8kr, for Matthieu Mottier and trainer Denise Mottier. Catalogne, off at 2.8/1, recorded her seventh career win now for earnings of €250,180. Cassite (5f Neoh Jiel-Qiuiva du Rib) was second for jockey Matthieu Abrivard and the team of Ecurie Luck and J.L. Dersoir at 1.3/1 favorite. Bayern (6g Jam Pridem-Fulanera) was third for Oceane Briand and trainer Tony LeBeller at 18/1.
Friday racing also took place at Wolwega was the Championnat d’Ete Elite Final (purse €9,900, 2100 meters, 10 starters) went to 1.13.4kr timed and 4/5 favorite Regio (7m Varenne-Leopardia) teamed with Robin Bakker. Paul J.P. Hagoort trains the property of Victoria Park Stable. Bakker recorded four wins on the card. Second in this one was 21/1 Feliai Boko (5f Virgil Boko-Serena Hall) also trained by Hagoort and driven by Hugo Langeweg, Jr. Third was 17/1 Freeway Fortuna (5f Conway Hall-Saratoga Yankee) driven by Joseph Verbeek for trainer S.M. Schoonderwoerd.
Finally was the Biarritz – Prix du President de Folleville (purse €35,000, 3750 meters, 12 starters) and 5.3/1 Aladin (7g Love You-Joie de Mai) scored timed in 1.17.78 for Cedric Terry and Ecurie les Tilleuls. 13/1 Vainqueur D’ete and 8/1 Athos de Marlau were the next two on the line.
Thomas H. Hicks