Romanesque (5m Love You-Guantanamera) with trainer Christophe Martens aboard took today’s featured Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Gr. II, €150,000 purse, 2875 meters, 10 starters) clocked in 1.15.3kr. This 3.1/1 odds winner is owned by Ecurie Rompus REF and defeated even-money favorite Ustinof du Vivier (7g Look de Star-Melba du Vivier) with Matthieu Abrivard up for trainer Sebastien Guarato. 7/2 Vinci de l'Abba’e (6m Otello Pierji-Kyboumette) was third for trainer/driver J-M Bazire with fourth and fifth to 22/1 veteran mare Roxanne Grif and 52/1 Pascia’Lest. Duke of Greenwood was scratched.
The Quinte+ Prix de l’Union de la Presse Hippique (€52,000 purse, 16 European starters, 2150 meters autostart) went to the 1.12.5kr winner Ulexa des Plans (7f Jag de Bellouet-Lola Dessut) with Matthieu Abrivard up for trainer Philippe Daugeard. The winner, off at 6.6/1, defeated 0.5/1 favorite and pacesetter Going For Gold ZAZ (7m Scarlet Knight-Sprite ZAZ) for trainer/driver Robert Bergh. Third was 36/1 Succes de Vaux (9g Edson Tilly-Idole de Branard) for trainer/owner M.G. Baron.
The Gr. III Prix de l’Association Nat des Turfistes (€85,000 purse, 2875 meters, 13 starters) went to 0.8/1 favorite Bird Parker (4m Ready Cash-Belisha) with Joseph Verbeeck at the lines. Philippe Allaire trains the winner for owner Elisabeth Allaire and was clocked in 1.14.9kr. He scored with a steady stretch-long drive that caught 2.4/1 Beau Gamin (4m Quinoa du Gers-Cadette), trained by Sebastien Guarato and reined by Eric Raffin, with third to 16/1 Bardane du Houlbet (4f Jet Fortuna-Hagu du Houlbet) for driver/trainer R.Ch. Larue.
The Gr. III other division of the Prix de la Federation Nat des Turfistes (€80,000 purse, 2150 meters autostart, 11 European starters) went to the 1.12.4kr winner 41.8/1 odds Adelia de Melodie (5f Lilium Madrik-Piccola Stella) for teamster Franck Ouvrie and trainer St. Meunier. 16/1 Tiger Woods As (5m Quick Wood-Tiegs Blue Chip) was second at 16/1 for driver Robin Bakker and trainer Paul Hagoort with third to 1.9/1 Red Rose America (5f Varenne-Armbro Voice) with J-M Bazire up for trainer Fabrice Souloy. Favorite at 1.7/1 was Akido and driver Franck Nivard and this pair ended fourth.
On August 11 at Cesena the Breeders Course (Premio Allvamento Folli Srl) for two year-olds (purse €14,300, 1660 meters autostart) went to Ultimo Sogno (2m Gruccione Jet-Giamaica-Indro Park) clocked in 1.17.1kr with second to Ulisse LL (2m Allison Hollow-Vincenza Gius). Sire of the winner is a son of Pine Chip from Petite Victory, she by Valley Victory from Petite Evander.
Thomas H. Hicks