Alexandre Abrivard teamed Prix de Cornulier winner Scarlet Turgot (10f Dahir de Prelong-Noella de Massy) to victory in today’s Gr. I International €200,000 purse Prix d’Ile-de-France (2175 meters, monte, 13 starters) at Paris-Vincennes. The 2.4/1 harness racing favorite trailed for much of the 2175 meter test, long behind open lengths leader Vaillant Cash, before making a three-wide move to get into contention around the final bend.
Once in range she darted to the pegs and got past Vaillant Cash (7m Offshore Dream-Kara du Rebon) on the line. Vaillant Cash was off at 9.6/1 odds and was reined by Clement Frecelle.
Scarlet Turgot is trained by Yannick-Alain Briand for owner Mme.
Th. Hoste. 29.7/1 Tornade du Digeon (9f Jag de Bellouet-Harlane du Terme) was third for Eric Raffin and trainer J-M Bazire. 49/1 Udayama (8f Echo-Lancia du Pont) was fourth (she the race winner last year) and 44/1 Nonant Le Pin (9f Goetmals Wood-Blazing Janice) ended fifth for Yoann Lebourgeois.
The winner was clocked in 1.10.6kr off fast fractions (1.06.8kr at 1500 to go; 1.07.5kr at 1000; 1.098kr at 500).
With the victory Scarlet Turgot became a legend of sort by recording the Cornulier/Ile-de-France double and lowering the mounted trotting time record at Paris-Vincennes with the 1.10.6kr score. Malakite held the old record at 1.108kr set in May, 2008. Scarlet also lowered the Prix d’Ille-de-France record set by Picsou de Villabon (1.10.9kr in 2011). The Vaillant Cash led fractions today set up the new time standard (1.06.8kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.07.5kr at 1000; 1.09.8kr at the 500) and the top finishers, each clocked in 1.11.3kr or better, compared to the aforementioned Picsoo Villabon and the 1.11.3kr winners Nouba Turgot in 2009 and Hot Tub in 2008.
The opening monte contest this day was the €95,000 purse Gr. III Prix Indienne over 2175 meters. The nose winner timed in 1.11.5kr was 4/5 odds Boss du Meleuc (5g Lucky Blue-Rafale du Meleuc). Eric Raffin teamed the winner for trainer/owner Yannick Alain Briand. 2.6/1 Aventurier Cehere (6g Niky-Iloa de l’Orne) at 2.6/1 was second for Antoine Wiels with a distant third to 79/1 Aurea Vikland (6f Prince de Montforf-Kettina de Monti) and joc key P-Y Verva.
The Quinte+ today had a €3.85 million jackpot and the race was the €60,000 purse Grand Prix d’Afrique over 2850 meters with 18 contestants. Also named the Prix de la Gironde, the race winner was 3.2/1 Ange de Lune (6g Laetenter Diem-Kera Elle) for owner/trainer/driver Mathieu Abrivard clocked in 1.14kr. 19/1 Vivaldo Bello (7m Love You-Enfilade) was second for Franck Nivard teaming for trainer Thierry Duvaldestin. 16/1 Aupiquaria (6f Goetmals Wood-Illys Way) held third for trainer/driver J-M Bazire.
The Gr. III International Prix de la Marne (purse €110,000, 2700 meters, 10 starters) went to the rallying wide Ustinof du Vivier (8g Look de Star-Melba du Vivier) at 3.1.1 odds for Alexandre Abrivard for trainer Sebastien Guarato. Bred by Jean-Yves Lecuyer,the winner scored in 1.12.5kr off fast even fractions (1.11.8kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.10.9kr at 1000; 1.12.1kr at 500 to go) and prevailed to victory when leading 0.5/1 odds favorite Viking Blue went off-stride and took dq. 62/1 Sierra Leone (10f John Arifant-Une d’Havetot) reached second for J.Cl. Hallais and Ave Avis (6m Kesaco Phedo-Magna Avis) took third for trainer/driver J-M Bazire. 25/1 Luckycharm Hanover (8m Andover Hall-Lady Luck Hanover) hugged the pegs to be fourth for Bjorn Goop and trainer Daniel Reden with fifth to 25/1 Beckman (9g Turbo Sund-Nins Palema) that Orjan Kihlstrom reined for trainer Fabrice Souloy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upqe1rWk7Go
The Gr. III Prix de Royen (purse €100,000, 2700 meters, 12 European starters) went to 2.7/1 Briac Dark (5m Prince Gede-Queen des Charmes) for trainer/driver Franck Anne and owner Guy Barou. This one scored timed in 1.13.4kr after quick early fractions (1.11.7kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.11kr at 1000; 1.13.9kr at 500). Briac Dark surged to a nice lead after Arlington Dream and Red Rose America made the pace, with Arlington Dream off-stride off the final bend., and then held gamely as 6.5/1 Vikind Va Bene (6m Rite On Line-Iriana du Mont) closed in for Orjan Kihlstrom and trainer Fabrice Souloy. 5/2 odds Akido (6g Love You-Isba) rallied for third for trainer/driver Franck Nivard and Wcurie Comte P de Montesson with 23.2/1 A Nous Trois (6m Orlando Vici-Quallas) getting fourth for Pierre Vercruysse and trainer Sebastien Guarato.
The wrap-up today was the Prix Toque Blanches (purse €80,000, 2850 meters, 13 starters, monte for apprentice jockeys) and Ugo On Wood (8g Nuage Noir-Madone On Wood) took victory at 9/10 odds with Leo Abrivard up. 3.2/1 Unsert Dairpet was second for Julien Balu and 24.8/1 Uppercut Orange held for third for Alexis Collette.The winner was timed in a sharp 1.13kr.
Thomas H. Hicks