Diamond (6g Classic Photo-Gala dei Bessi) took Saturday’s Wolvega Breeders Crown (purse €14,280, 2100 meters autostart, 10 starters) clocked in 1.14.7kr for reinsman Robin Bakker, harness racing trainer P.J.P. Hagoort and Stal Mille Fleurs BV. The 6.4/1 odds winner bested 3.9/1 Exceptional Boko (5g Virgill Boko-Uncommon Boko) and driver Dion P. Tesselaar, also trainer. 23.3/1 Eagle B Butcher (5m Pagasus Boko-Iwema’s First) took third for John De Leeuq and trainer J.C. Bot.
At Le Cepiere the Grand Prix Dynavena Maisagri Duran (purse €35,000, 2950 meters, 13 European starters) went to 1.16.2kr timed 6.4/1 odds Aribo Mix (6g Reve des Vaillees-Hardness) for trainer/driver D. Cordeau. 45/1 Topaze de Canderie (9f Legs du Clos-Oree Line) was second for J.Ph. Monclin ahead of 3.4/1 Orleans Font (8m Ganymede-Saint Ghil SM) and reinsman Christophe Martens.
At LeCroise Laroche on Saturday was the Prix de France (purse €30,000, 1800 meters autostart, 15 entrants) and victory was earned by 7.6/1 Tesaco de Pont (9g Kesaco Phedo-Ma Soiree du Pont) timed in 1.11.6 for trainer/driver Alexis Garandeau. 4.3/1 Vulcain (7g Diamant Gede-Nouvelle Perle) was second for Pierre Vercruysse, trainer Emmanuel Ruault and Ecurie Comte P de Montesson. Third was the even-money choice Uzo Josselyn (8m Love You-Lezire Josselyn) with Dominik Locqueneux driving for trainer Robert Bergh and Ecurie des Charmes.
At Kincsem Park their featured Ketevesek Versenye for two year-olds (purse 600,000Huf, 1800 meters autostart) went to 4.7/1 Celsius Evo (2m Pilgrims Taj-Daniellesine-Donerail) clocked in 1.20.1kr for driver Viktoria Nemeth, trainer Lajos Marton and AMMA Loversenmy Kft. The 1/5 favorite Villam Ville (2g Beissinger Hanover-Izaville-Endless Sands) took second for trainer/driver Imre Fazekas. Third went to Vulcano Boy (2m Tony Oaks-Oracle-Lindy Lane) with Dejan Katamic up for trainer Tibor Hajnal.
The undercard included the co-featured Zapolya DIJ (purse 600,000HUf, 1900 meters autostart) and victory was earned by the 2/5 favorite Sanger MS (6g Victory Scream-Samba MS-Armbro Goal) with Laszlo Koszegi-Kovacs up for trainer B. Johasz and owners Horses and Houses Kft and the driver. 5.6/1 Henrik Ibsen AT (4m Worship-Her Own Child-Impossant Sund) was second for Dejan Katanic and trainer Hajnal with third to 4.1/1 Oldtimer Diamant (6g Arc de Triomphe-Primadonnas Lady-Titan Way) with Emese Vezer aboard for trainer Emil Csordas.
Also on the card was the 400,000Huf Early Harvester DIJ raced over 1960 meters distance handicapped. The 1.19.9kr timed victory went to 5.4/1 Euklid AT (3m Even Better Odds-Echalote-Credit Winner) for driver Dejan Katanic. Tibor Hajnal trains this one for Illetmeny Kft and Tomislav Viscjic. 5.4/1 Tequila Hush (4m Oncoming Hush-Lady Shatterley-Bourbon) took second for trainer/driver Pal Arokszallasi and third went to 18.3/1 Unipress (3f Incredible Cole-Inzulin-Valley Guardian) for trainer/driver Laszlo Kolozsi.
Leading FR dash winning trot drivers/jockeys are as follows through October 1st:
Drivers: J-M Bazire 196, Eric Raffin 129, Franck Nivard 128, Mathieu Abrivard 108, Gabriel Galormini 98
Monte Jockeys: Eric Raffin 57, Alexandre Abrivard 41, Yoann Lebourgeois 40, Anthony Barrier 32, Matthieu Mottier 30.
Thomas H. Hicks