January 15, 2017 – Today’s Prix de Belgique festivities began with harness racing monte action and the Gr. II Prix Gelinotte.
Cenora (5f Blue Dream-Nalara) took today’s opener, the Prix de Castera-Venduzan (monte, purse €46,000, 2175 meters, eight starters). Mathieu Mottier was in the irons for this 1.13.6kr timed victory. Dominique Mottier is owner/trainer/breeder of the fine mare. Second was 2.9/1 Cannelle de Pipan (5f Singalo-Pour d’Aube) with Adrien Lamy up for trainer Bruno Marie, and third was 2.3/1 Calypso Queen (5f Scipion du Goutier-Dan’s Girl) with Franck Nivard aboard.
The co-featured Gr. II Prix Gelinotte (purse €120,000, 2700 meters, nine starters) went to 1.15kr timed rallying 9.4/1 Elea Madrik (3f Goetmals Wood-Ouelea Madrik). William Bigeon reined and trains the winner that Cl. Ghedj owns and Emmanuel Leclerc bred. Even-money favorite Erming d’Oliverie (3f Scipion du Coutier-These d’Oliverie) held second for Franck Nivard, trainer Franck Leblanc and breeder/owner Ecurie de l’Oliverie. 10.7/1 Elisione Mag (3f Qualker Jet-Perla du Ravary) was third for David Thomain.
The Prix Jura (purse €75,000, 2100 meters autostart, 18 starters) producing a driving finish with the victory to 22.7/1 odds Tamisso (10g Nobody du Chene-Hastavissa). David Thomain teamed the R. Jaffrelot trainee that is owned by breeder Patrick Gerard Cavey. 11/1 Venus de Bailly (8f Chaillot-Oceane de Bailly) was second for Franck Ouvrie and 3.8/1 Ultra de Vindecy (9g Jasmin de Flore-Nora The Best) took third for Eric Raffin. The 7/2 favorite Unbridled Charm was unplaced.
Thomas H. Hicks