November 17, 2016 – 12/1 The Tiger (9g Nelson de Vandel-Notre Dame Bourbon) scored a 1.14.1kr victory in the Prix de l’ile d’Oleron at Vincennes (monte, purse €110,000, 2850 meters, 12 European starters). Damien Bonne teamed the harness racing winner for owner/trainer Benjamin Goetz. 3/1 Ulka des Champs (8f Offshore Dream-Melissa des Champs) took second for Eric Raffin and third was 41/1 Art On Line (9g Rite On Line-Lass Fleur).
On the Paris-Vincennes card was the Prix d’Aix les Bains (purse €37,000, 2700 meters, 15 starters) and the 1.15kr winner was 1.9/1 Duke Josselyn (3m Royal Dream-Tena Josselyn). Eric Raffin piloted the Etienne Dubois that he also trains. Yvan Bernard was the breeder of this consistent youthful performer. 4.6/1 Daddy Cash (3m Ready Cash-Tite Dry) landed second with Yoann Lebourgeois up for owner Frederic Sauque and trainer Philippe Allaire. 38/1 Django Galbe (3g Nomade du Digeon-Milady Galbe) was third for Benoit Robin.
The Prix de Miramont de Guyenne (monte, purse €36,000, 2700 meters, eight starters) was a competitive affair for the monte performers with six within two lengths. 6.9/1 Cantate Vrie (4f Texas Charm-Primeur Vrie) rallied to win for Matthieu Abrivard, owner/trainer Julian Dubois and Louis Baudron was the breeder. 9.9/1 Charmeuse Desbois (4f Ganymede-Idole) was second for Eric Raffin, trainer Fabrice Souloy and Ecurie de Tremont. 5.6/1 Calypso Vinoir (4f Jam Pridem-Lambada Vinoir) and Franck Nivard was third for owner/trainer Damien Bonne.
The Prix de Belfort (purse €64,000, 2700 meters, 18 starters) went to 1.14.3kr winner, 2.3/1, barefoot, Bakchich (5g Quopeck-Paix de Villeneuve). Tony LeBeller teamed Bakchich for trainer/owner Jerome Michael Legros. 20/1 Bourbon Somolli (5m Sam Bourbon-Jamaica Somolli) was second, three lengths back. For David Thomain and trainer Thierry Duvaldestin. 10/1 Black Atout (5m Prodigious-La Legune) rallied between rivals to be third for Franck Nivard and trainer Franck Leblanc.
The November 18 Quinte+ is on the night program at Vincennes in the Prix Mizar. Sunday at Vincennes should be a superb racing lineup with three groupe races headed by the Prix de Bretagne, first of the B’s leading to d’Amerique in late January, and the Prix Annick Dreux for fillies that includes Dawana and Douce Rebelle.
Thomas H. Hicks