The weekend ahead should be a good one for trotting fans. On Saturday a fine harness racing card is on tap at Paris-Vincennes featuring three groupe contests.
The Gr. II Prix Robert Auvrey (purse €120,000, 2850 meters, eight starters) includes Baltic Charm (5m Password-Ilikova) that Eric Raffin will team for trainer Sebastien Guarato. Bolero Love (5m Love You-Orelady) will be a main adversary with Franck Nivard up for trainer Guarato and owner Antonio De Sousa. The field also includes Belina Josselym and Bahia Quesnot.
The Gr. II Prix Louis Forcinal (purse €120,000, 2700 meters, seven monte starters) is also worth a watch as that field includes Americaine (Antoine Wiels up), Best of Jets (Francois Lagadeuc, Attentionally (David Thomain) and Athena de Vandel (Matthieu Abrivard).
The Gr. III Prix du Bois de Vincennes for €115,000 is also on the program with 13 top-level contestants at the start. The lineup is shown below:
Chapeau, Ch. Martens
Ave Avis, J-M Bazire
Trebol, G-A Pou Pou (Spain’s winner of €568.000)
Africaine, F. Ouvrie
Amiral Sacha, G. Gelormini
Tornado Bello, P. Levesque
Beckman, F. Nivard
Tornade du Digeon, E. Raffin
Sierra Leone, J.Cl. Hallais
Texas de l’Iton, T, De Genouil
Nene’Degli Ulivi, M. Abrivard
Kadett CD, D. Locqueneux
Brillantissime, P. Vercruysse (first 2016 start for this winner of €863,000
The day’s Quinte+ (jackpot €3.8 million) event is at Paris-Vincennes in the Prix Jean Cabrol (purse €72,000, 2700 meters, 18 European starters) and that is also a solid field that includes Perfect Power, Increased Workload, A Nous Trous, Dante Boko, Anette du Mirel, Altesse du Mirel, Sire de la Creuse and Aubrion du Gers.
Good trotting action also takes place this weekend at Romme and Farjestad. Friday at Farjestad is the Folke Hjalmarssons for 100,000SEK to the winner of thios 2140 meter autostart contest. Ten five year-old mares are in the lineup including Juniata Hanover, Ruby Trap (Explosive Matter-Ruby Crown) and Olympia Gold. Deepdish (Muscle Hill-Pizza Dolce) will also be at the start. This day also has the Prins Carl Philips Jubile for 250,000SEK to the winner. Ten five year-old males will be at the start led by Al Dente (Scarlet Knight-Mollie’s Photo), a caree winner of 3.9SEK million, Je t’Aime Express and Exodus Hanover. Several lightly raced hopefuls are in this group including Propulsion (Muscle Hill-Denae) that is owned by Stall Zet and trained by Daniel Reden. On Saturday on V75 day at Romme is the Super Lights Gold Division that has 12 veterans vying for 150,000SEK first prize. Support Justice, On Track Piraten and Nahar will be at the start.
Seaburn Simona wins Prix Vans Barbot at Lisieux
3/1 odds Seaburn Simona (7f Super News-Dancing Jenny) took today’s Prix Vans Barbot (purse €26,000, 2100 meters autostart, 14 European starters) at Hippodrome Lisieux. Timed in a quick 1.13kr the winner was reined by trainer Thierry Duvaldestin to narrowly defeat 1.1/1 favorite Attacus (6g Hand du Vivier-Nelocata) handled by Genny Delaune for trainer Sebastien Guarato. Third went to 6.4/1 Princess Kronos (7f Donato Hanover-Malibou Princess) and driver Christophe Martens for trainer Vincent Martens.
This day at Gelsenkirchen the Prix Von Borely (purse €5,000, 2000 meters autostart, 12 international starters) went to the 1.15.8kr timed, 2.7/1 odds Successful (4g Andover Hall-Kentucky Love Song) for trainer/driver Josef Franzl and owner Stall Germania. 3.8/1 Finesse (4f Armbro Goal-Zo Super Koel) landed second ahead of 20/1 Vengeur de Mac (7g Gaxouillis-Laximic).
Thomas H. Hicks