Yoann Lebourgeux teamed Philippe Allaire trained, Olivier Henri Thomas owned, 9/2 odds Charly du Noyer (4m Ready Cash-Ornella Jet) to a three-length victory in today’s Criterium 4 Ans (purse €240,000, 2850 meters at Vincennes on topflight harness racing card, 18 national starters) timed in a sharp 1.12.5kr. Second was 22/1 Coup de Poker (4m Coktail Jet-Tacticienne) for trainer/owner/driver Christophe Gallier. 97/1 Cahal des Rioults (4m Password-Plesse des Rioults) took the third spot with J-Ph Monclin driving for the Allaire/Thomas team. 19/1 Caid Griff (4m Password-Savane Griff) was fourth with teamster Eric Raffin for trainer Sebastien Guarato and Ecurie Griff. Fifth money went to 47/1 Cylee Nevele (9f Sam Bourbon-Quick Nevele) for David Thomain and trainer/owner Philippe Allaire. Well regarded 4.2/1 odds Cobra Bleu was dq’d for a miscue along with five other rivals.
The great quality card also included the Gr. II Prix Albert Demarq (purse €120,000, 10 starters). The 1.13.1timed winner was 27/1 Badius de Tilou (5m Pagalor-Quetty Turgot) with David Thomain at the lines. 33/1 Beau Gamin (5m Quinoa du Gers-Cadette) was second driven by Gabriel Gelormini for trainer Guarato and owner J.M. Rancoule. 7/1 Bahia Quesnot (5f Scipion du Goutier-Queen Ines) was third with Matthieu Abrivard up and 2/5 favorite Baltic Charm (5m Password-Ilikova) held fourth with Eric Raffin driving for trainer Guarato.
On this Vincennes Saturday afternoon card was also the monte Gr. II Prix Jean Gauvreau (purse €120,000, 2175 meters, 12 starters) and 2/1 Best of Jets (5m Magniificent Rodney-Plume Jets) scored in a lightning quick 1.10.6kr for jockey Francois Lagedeuc. The winner is trained by owner Jean Michael Baudouin. Second choice 2.1/1 Bilibili was a miscue dq. Brisbale du Bourg (5f Jasmin de Flore-Nistelle d’Aveze) took seond money for trainer/owner Sebastien Guarato with David Thomain in the irons. 9/1 Belissima France (5f Blue Dream-QuartaRosa Sun) was third for Matthieu Abrivard ahead of 22/1 Buscuit Delavera (5m Ludo de Castelle-Neva du Rosier) with Clement Frecelle aboard.
Early card action showed the Gr. III Prix de Faulquemont (purse €66,000, 11 starters) with the 1.14.7kr clocked victory earned by hard driving 26/1 Dragon des Racques (3m Love You-Quinte des Racques) and trainer/driver L.Cl. Abrivard. 6.3/1 odds Diocies (3m Fortuna Fant-Noiserre de Dycl) was second driven by Eric Raffin for trainer/owner Philippe Guillard. Third went to 8/1 Duroc Montaval (3m Singalo-Ovalie Montaval) and leading reinsman J-M Bazire.
Other action on the card saw Roxanne Bar (6f Exploit Caf-Guandalina Bar) win the monte Prix de Concarreau (purse €72,000, 2850 meters, 14 starters with apprentice riders) for Thierry Dromigny riding for trainer Catello Savarese and Scuderia Stecca SRL. The winner went off at 30.2/1 odds. 44/1 Alpha Saltor (6m Paris Haufor-Gitry d’Arione) was a close second for jockey S.D. Jardin ahead of 13/1 odds Valjean Wild (7g Oakwood du Closet-Jocondine) with Thierry Peltier aboard. The winner was clocked in a solid 1.13.9kr.
The Prix de Combree (purse €56,000, 2700 meters, 12 European entrants) went to 1/5 favorite Call Me Keeper (6m Pine Chip-Eliza Keeper) and J-M Bazire. The relatively soft spot aided this winner for trainer Daniel Reden and Stall Zet. 24/1 Tobrouk de Payre (9g Meaulnes du Corta-Orcade de Payre) was second for J-Ph Monclin ahead of third finishing Ulula Bella (8f Jam Pridem-Nathalia Bella) at 11/1 for driver Alexandre Abrivard.
Toward program end the Prix du Rouergue (purse €72,000, 2100 meters autostart, 16 European starters) attracted a down in class but high quality field and the 1.12.2kr timed winner was 14.5/1 Urgos (8m Kesaco Phedo-Orcheres) with trainer J-M Bazire also doing the driving. 8.1/1 Chapeau (7m Love You-Crown Tess) was a rallying between rivals second for Christophe Martens, trainer Vincent Martens and owner Renato Bruns. Third was veteran 5/1 odds Udo’s Oiler (8g Orlando Vici-Carmela Kemp) that was reined by Dominik Locqueneux for trainer Robert Bergh and owner Etoile Sweden HB.
Thomas H. Hicks