Saturday at Paris-Vincennes, three year-old open performers contested the €55,000 Prix de Chatillon (2700 meters, 12 starters) and a blanket finish saw 44.3/1 Donzelle Moniga (3f Sanymede Tivoli-Ravana Verderie) secure victory for Franck Ouvrie timed in 1.16.5kr. 1.1/1 favorite Drageur (3m Speedy Blue-Tilda) landed second for trainer/driver Mathieu Mottier with 10/3/1 Darwin Maza (3m Coktail Jet-Paloma) third along the pegs for David Thomain and trainer Sebastien Guarato.
The Gr. II Prix Louis Forcinal (purse €120,000, 2700 meters, seven monte starters) resulted in an easy victory for 4/5 favorite Athena de Vandel (6f Prince Gede-Maelia de Vandel). Matthieu Abrivard was in the irons for trainer Cedrik Megissier and Ecurie La Tour de Vandel. 3.9/1 Attentionally (6f Jasmin de Flore-Intentionally) took second for David Thomain ahead of placed third Annees Folles (6f Memphis du Rib-Juva Fortuna) ridden by Mathieu Mottier. Time for the winner was 1.13.7kr.
Saturday’s Quinte+ was the Prix Jean Cabrol (purse €72,000, 2700 meters, 18 European starters) at Paris-Vincennes. The upper class warriors displayed their skills with victory to fast-closing Universal Rider (8m Nahar de Beval-Hanska) at 16/1 odds. Mathieu Mottier teamed that winner that he also trains. Timed in 1.12.4kr off steady fractions (1.11.8kr at the 1500 and 1000 meters to go posts; 1.12.4kr at the 500) the winner nipped 6.7/1 Altesse du Mirel (6f Ready Cash-Ina de Mirel), and trainer/driver Pierre Vercruysse, on the line. 9.5/1 A Nous Trois (6m Orlando Vici-Quallas) landed third for Franck Nivard and trainer Sebastien Guarato. 67/1 Uniflosa Bella (8f Jag de Bellouet-Koctiflosa Gede) was fourth for Antoine Wiels ahead of 62/1 Anette du Mirel (8f Laetenter Diem-Lisa de Mirel) handled by Anthony Barrier for trainer Anders Lindqvist.
The Gr. III Prix de Vincennes (purse €115,000, 2700 meters, 13 international starters) was a Pick5 contest that drew fast-class aged performers. 7/10 favorite Amiral Sacha (6m Ganymede-Nostalgique Sacha) scored for driver Gabriel Gelormini and trainer Florent Lamara/owner Ecurie Sidere from 20/1 Kadett CD (9m Scarlet Knight-Kiss Of Life) and Dominik Locqueneux. Robert Bergh trains Kadett CD for In The Zone AB. 44/1 Sierra Leone (10f John Arifant-Une d’Havetot) took third for J.Cl. Hallais ahead of 21/1 Brillantissime (5m Ready Cash-Ivre de Victoire) with Pierre Vercruysse up for trainer Philippe Allaire and owner/breeder Frederic Sauque and fifth was Spain’s 11/1 Trebel (9m Hot Blues-Sally Can Wait) for Gabriel-Angel Pou Pou. Fractions were relatively modest for this class (1.13.3kr at 1500 to go; 1.12.8kr at the 1000; 1.14 at 500) with a fast finish ending 1.12.9kr race time.Amiral Sacha
Today’s Prix de Beaux (purse €65,000, 2700 meters) for four year-old females went to 2/1 second choice Tessy d’Ete (4f Ganymede-Love Me Tender) with Franck Nivard up. Timed in 1.14.9kr the winner is trained by Fabrice Souloy for Scuderia Eurocolor SRL of Italy. 1.6/1 favorite Tentation Ans (4f Muscles Yankee-Coronation Ans) held second for trainer/driver Pietro Gubellini and Scuderia Phenomena SRL. Third went to fast-closing Clarabelle (4f Ready Cash-Rebelle) with Gabby Gelormini up for owner Jean-Pierre Dubois and trained Yves Boireau.
The final groupe race this day was the Gr. II Prix Robert Auvray for a purse of €120,000 and conducted over 2850 meters by eight quality starters. J-M Bazire teamed his trainee Belina Josselyn (5f Love You-Lezira Josselyn) to victory timed in 1.14.2kr for owner Yvan Bernard as the 1.4/1 favorite. 1.6/1 odds Bolero Love (5m Love You-Orelady) was a close second for Franck Nivard, trainer Sebastien Guarato and Antonio De Sousa. 2.6/1 Baltic Charm (6m Password-Ilikova) was third driven by Eric Raffin for trainer Guarato and owner Stephane Szwarc. The top three finishers were all timed in 1.14.2kr.
The closer of a great card this Saturday was the €65,000 purse Prix de Gueugnon over 2700 meters with 18 European participants at the start. The 1.14.6kr winner was Italy’s Toseland Kyu (4m Love You-Zoraya Kyu) off at 2.4/1 and driven by Alexandre Abrivard. Catello Savarese trains this one for Scuderia 4AB SAS. 3.6/1 Cupidon du Vivier (4m Love You-Odessa du Vivier) was a solid second for Eric Raffin, trainer Guarato and owner Jean Yves Lucuyer, 24/1 Cash Okay (4m Ready Cash-Tresokay) rallied to nab third ahead of 57/1 Flashback (4m Expo Bi-Pine Spirit) that Franck Ouvrie teamed for Arnold J. Mollema.
At Graignes FR, lightly raced Diable du Vivier (3m Orlando Vici-Rodie du Vivier) took the €18,000 Prix Presse de la Manche over 2700 meters, defeating nine rivals over the rain soaked course, clocked in 1.20.5kr. Sebastien Ernault teamed the winner, trained by owner/breeder Jean Yves Lucuyer.
At Gavle SWE today the featured Fyraaringslopp for Mares (150,000SEK to the winner, 2140 meters autostart) went to the impressive favorite Timbal (4f From Above-Clear As A Bell-Super Arnie) for trainer/driver Robert Bergh. She recorded her 16th career win in 22 starts now for 2.24SEK million earned. This Menhammer Stuteri AB bred mare is owned by Stall Gaffelby. In Toto Sund (4f Ken Warkentin-Marsia LB-Windsongs Legacy) was second for Ulf Ohlsson and trainer Daniel Reden with Spoil Me (4f Going Kronos-Mystical Ann-Kadabra) third for Kenneth Haugstad and trainer Roger Walmann.
US import Wild Honey was scratched from this race that would have been her initial European appearance. On the same card the Forsmark AB for 30,000SEK to the winner went to the Reden trained, Stall Zet owned Stand Bayou (5m Donato Hanover-Roux Hanover-Mr. Lavec). Ulf Eriksson teamed the winner, bred by Pete Spears’ Windsong Stable. Stand Bayou recorded his second 2016 victory to go along with two second place finishes in four starts. He’s now 13 times first through third in 18 outings. Explosive River (4g Explosive Matter-Just About Enough) was second the Orjan Kihlstrom up for trainer Walmann.
Thomas H. Hicks