June 25, 2017 – Groupe action today at Paris Vincennes included three monte events, two being Gr. I tests. The monte day began with the Prix Xavier de Saint Paris (monte, Gr. II, purse €120,000, 12 starters) and it went to 6.5/1 Cassate (5f Neoh Jiel-Quivadu Rib) with Adrien Lamy in the irons for Ecurie Luck and trainer J.L. Dersoir. 22/1 Cavalleria (5f Prodigious-Janga) was second for Eric Raffin and trainer Sebastien Guarato, with third to 18/1 Clara du Pontseuil (5f Mich Phili-Osaka d’Occagnes) for jockey Anthony Barrier. The heavy 9/10 favorite Canadien d’Am was a miscue dq.
The Gr. I Monte Prix Dessai (purse €200,000, 2175 meters, 12 starters, three year olds) went to 1.13kr clocked and 5/10 odds favorite Eye Of The Storm (3m Village Mystic-La Dolce Vita) with Yoann Lebourgeois in the irons. The Philippe Allaire owned and trained product was bred by Hugues Rousseau. 20/1 Epatante (3f Village Mystic-Suricate) almost nailed her stablemate on the line with Anthony Barrier up for trainer Allaire and breeder/owner Pierre Tebirent. 5/1 Eiffel Tower (3f Ready Cash-Nouvelle d’Atout) took third for jockey David Thomain, trainer J-M Bazire and owner Ottavia Roffi-Urano. The race winner bounced back nicely from a pair of recent miscue dq’s.
Draft Life (4f Ubriaco-Maflymede) at 10/1 took the prestigious Gr. I Monte Grand Prix du President de la Republique (purse €240,000, 2850 meters, 13 starters) with Eric Raffin in the irons. Raffin powered Draft Life to the front after 1000 meters and opened a huge margin that the pair held to the line. Louis Baudron bred, owns and trains the winner. Draft Life recorded her eighth career win in 21 starts, now for €482,170 earned. 13/1 Dawana (4f Ready Cash-Sanawa) was second for Anthony Barrier and owner/trainer Philippe Allaire. Third was 6/1 Dragon de Fresne (4m Saphir Castelets-Rosee des Bois) with Matthieu Abrivard, the jockey. Heavily backed Django Riff and Darling de Reux was miscue dq’s. Race time was 1.12.8kr. This event was presented, as was the entire program, very professionally and garnered great support from the large crowd in the fan and entertainment areas and in the winner’s circle. Great racing, great horses and fan entertainment makes for an unbeatable afternoon.
Replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwfHsvcL7vw
This win by Eric Raffin placed him in the points lead for the E-challenge and culminated superb monte action.
Thomas H. Hicks