August 22, 2015 – Norway’s Lionel (5m Look de Star-Aurora Sign-Smok’n Lantern) took today’s Paris-Vincennes featured Gr. III Prix de Provence (purse €85,000, 2700 meters, eight European starters) with Franck Nivard up for harness racing trainer Fabrice Souloy and owner Goran Antonsen. The even-money winner was timed in a sharp 1.12.9kr to defeat Sweden’s 5/2 odds Dante Boko (5g Going Kronos-Margherita Rosa) that raced well on the front for Dominik Locqueneux, driving for trainer Lutfi Kolgjini and owner Stall Be The Best, and that effort was half-length short of victory. 7/2 Vaisman (6m Memphis du RibIula du Donetil) was a distant third for owner/trainer/driver Franck Anne ahead of Italy’s 18/1 Prince di Poggio (6m Varenne-Moon Shadow) and teamster Eric Raffin. Fractions were 1.14.7kr at the first 500 meters; 1.12.9kr at the 1000 mark; 1.12.4kr at the 500 and 1.12.9kr at the finish.
Also on the card was the Prix de Lury Sur Arnon (purse €38,000, 2100 meters autostart, 14 starters) and it went to 7.7/1 odds Borsalino du Jal (4m Oyonnax-Riva Pellois) for trainer Sebastien Guarato and teamster Guillaume Jouve for owner RMC 2014. Second went to 13/1 Bambou de Calvi (4g Korean-Gramonde) for Matthieu Verva ahead of 3.7/1 Binky (4g Niky-Pristounette) driven by J-M Bazire for trainer J-M Baudouin. Winning time was 1.12.6kr.
The well-bred Crazy Dream (3g Repeat Love-Daisy Chain-Speedy Somolli), off at 2/1, won the Prix de Lagny (purse €36,000, 2700 meters, 10 starters) in 1.18.kr driven by trainer Yves Boireau for owner Ecurie D. 25/1 Clear Sky (3m Oyonnax-Tosea) was second for trainer/driver Charles Antoine Mary ahead of 65/1 Camel Griff (3g Nice Love-Reine Griff) reined by Gaetan Ligeron. Legendary broodmare Daily Chain has produced 16 foals, the last in 2013, 12 money winners and five with over US$100,000 earned including Kaisy Dream 1:56.2 ($1,205,145), Orsy Dream 1:56.2 ($257,337), Paisy Dream 1:59.2 ($170,861) and Nice Dream 1:59.1($134513)
In Sweden on August 21 at Gavle the well-bred Tobin Kronos (3m Muscle Hill-Zamia FC-Sugarcane Hanover) took the E3 Consolation (80,000SEK to winner, 1640 meters autostart) timed in 1.12.3kr. Ulf Ohlsson teamed the winner to defeat Token Bi (3g Equinox Bi-Ida Grandi-Toss Out) with Columbus Sisu (3g Korean-I Enjoy Beinga Girl-Conway Hall). Zamia FC 1:58.1 ($500,352) was winner of the Gran Premio Citt’di Napoli and has produced eight foals, six money winner and six in 1:59.1 or better including Gift Kronos 1:51.2 ($358,901), Mint Kronos 1:55.1 ($271,513) and Namale Kronos 1:55.2 ($153,648). Second dam of the winner is Twiggy by Speedy Somolli from Dance Slipper by Noble Victory.
Thomas H. Hicks