Today’s classique Gr. I Prix Albert Viel (purse €200,000, 2700 meters, 13 starters) went to the 9/10 harness racing favorite Django Riff (3m Ready Cash-Rasta Perrine) with Joann Lebourgeois teaming. The “Jazzman” is owned by breeder Elisabeth Allaire and trained by Philippe Allaire. The fine colt now has nine wins in 13 career starts for €521,900 earned. He was clocked in 1.13.8kr over the classic “grande piste” distance at Vincennes.
18/1 Dawana (3f Ready Cash-Sanawa) was a solid second for driver Gabriele Gelormini. This filly is also an Allaire owned and trained pupil and was bred by Jean-Pierre Guay. 3.1/ Dollar Macker (3m Saxo de Vandel-Salt Lake City) was a rallying third with J-Ph Monclin aboard. Who else but Allaire is the trainer, this time with Olivier Henri Thomas the owner. 11.3/1 Dahlia du Rib (3m Oyonnax-Passiflore du RFib) took the fourth spot for trainer Joel Hallais, owner Ecurie Rib and teamster J.L.Cl. Dersoir.
The Gr. III Prix de Grasse (purse €80,000, 2700 meters, 17 European starters) went to 1.12.4kr timed Roxanne Bar (6f Exploit Caf-Gwendalina Bar). Roberto Andreghetti drove the 38.1/1 longshot winner for trainer Catello Savarese and Scuderia Stecca SRL of Italy. 7/10 favorite Spartan Kronos (5m Muscle Hill-Dame Kronos) held second for Conrad Lugauer, trainer for Ecurie Th.&J. Weber-Berchtold of Germany. Third was 101/1 longshot As Dore (6m Coktail Jet-Dragee d’Or) reined by Sebastian Ernault for trainer Robert Bergh and owner Mme. O. Roffi-Urano. 56/1 Rue du Bac (6m Infinitif-Ici) was fourth driven by Bjorn Goop and 6.2/1 El Catwalk (5f Classic Photo-El Mistress Leena) was fifth for J-M Bazire. This pair is both trained by Fabrice Souloy,
The Prix de Bulgarie (purse €52,000, 2700 meters, 17 starters) was a walk in the park this day for 5/2 odds favorite Cash Maker (4g Coktail Jet-Salt Lake City). Trainer Sebastian Ernault reined the winner timed in 1.14.2kr for owmer N.V.Hicewa. 21/1 Caviar du Vivier (4m Kiwi-Kea du Vivier) took second for teamster Franck Ouvrie, ahead of 2.9/1 Call Back (4m Neutron du cebe-Pearl Back) handled by trainer J-M Bazire. The winner’s dam, Salt Lake City (10f Insert Gede-La Star-Defi d’Aunou) also produced the good three year-old colt Dollar Macker and Belgian Beauty. Second dam Bahama (by Quito de Talonay) is a superb producer, having produced four solid winners, Quelle Aventure (US$366,962), Nouvelle Aventure (US$292,561), Rapide Aventure (US$244,435) and Mercenaire (US$149,458).
Today’s Q+ at Paris-Vincennes was the Prix Bertrand Deloisun (purse €90,000, 2850 meters, 17 European starters) and the 1.13.2kr clocked winner was 3,3.1 Viking Va Bene (6m Rite On Line-Iriana du Mont) for Bjorn Goop. Fabrice Souloy trains this one for Norway’s P. Hauger. 2/1 favorite Ave Avis (6m Kesaco Phedo) raced well to land second for J-M Bazire, also the trainer. 29/1 Artiste des Joudes (6m Prodigious-Memory de Joudes) rallied to gain third for David Thomain and owner/trainer Philippe Allaire.
The Gr. III Prix Raymond Fouard (purse €85,000, 2700 meters, 11 European starters) went to 8.5/1 odds, 1.13.2kr timed, Tony Gio (4m Varenne-Ilaria Jet) from Italy with Christophe Martens aboard. Vincent Martens trains the winner for Ecurie Bivans SRL. 6.3/1 Tessy d’Ete (4f Ganymede-Love Me Tender) was second for Bjorn Goop, trainer Fabrice Souloy and Scuderia Eurocolor SRL (Italty), 17/1 Coeur Baroque (4g Offshore Dream-Joie Baroque) was third for Damien Bonne, trainer Thierry Raffegeau and owner J-Y Roze. Even-money favorite Traders finished unplaced.
Thomas H. Hicks