Today sported the UET Masters Series Gr. II Prix des Ducs de Normandie (€150,000 purse, 2450 meters, 14 entrants) that was also a special €10 million Quinte+ jackpot. A packed harness racing audience was on-hand on a sunny, warm day at Caen.
Last year’s winner Roi du Lupin (10g Fleuron Perrine-Helia de Saint Pol) again was the feature race winner clocked in 1.12.8kr, at 3.4/1 odds, for driver J-P Bazire and owner trainer J-P Marmion.
Bazire had the Roi du Lupin, now with 29 career wins in 91 outings for €2,031,645, away alertly and took over from early pacemaker Africaine that secured the pocket. Aladin d’Ecajeul was parked with cover fourth and made a move on the leader off the last bend and faded to finish 12th. Africaine also yielded to end 10th and Swedishman showed little to finish 13th. Uprince was a dq for a miscue.
In the late going 39/1 Ramsey du Ham (10g Indy de Vive-Ufania du Buisson) closed stoutly to be second for Mathieu Abrivard with 26/1 Une Fille d’Amour (7f Infgant du Bossis-Never So Great) third for David Thomain. Uhlan du Val at 48/1 and Beckman at 33/1 were fourth and fifth.
Starters:
Uranie Lorraine, P-A Rynwalt-Boulard
Satin d’Avril, Guillaume Lizee
Saphir de Fille, Anthony Barrier
Africaine, Pierre Vercruysse
Uprince, Franck Nivard
Ramsey du Ham, Mathieu Abrivard
Texas de l’Iton, Tristan de Genouillac
Beckman (SWE), Roberto Andreghetti
Une Fille d’Amour, David Thomain
Aladin d’Ecajeul, Eric Raffin – Elitloppet invitee
Swedishman, Thierry Duvaldestin
Uhlan du Val, Cedrik Megissier
Reve de Beylev, Gabrielle Gelormini
Roi du Lupin, J-M Bazire
Thomas H. Hicks