Traders (6m Ready Cash-Graziella) overcame a 50 meter handicap to secure the Gr. III Prix de la Ville de Caen (purse 80,000€, 4400 meters distance handicap, 16 starters) for driver Yoann Lebourgeois and owner/trainer Philippe Allaire.
Traders who early this year won the monte Prix de Cornulier, won for 14th time in his career that has amounted to 39 starts, now for 1,071,910€ earned. Race time was 1.15.1kr over the 2-3/4 mile plus distance.
Traders was off as the 1.4/1 odds favorite. The 3/1 Direct Way (5g Quaker Jet-Queen Flore) was second for David Thomain, trainer Allaire and owner Jacques Pauc. The 6.2/1 Uniflosa Bella (10f Jag de Bellouet-Koctiflosa Bella), also handicapped 50 meters, was third for Eric Raffin and trainer/owner J.P. Marmion.
The 25 meter penalized and 41/1 outisder Anette du Mirel (8f Laetenter Diem) was fourth for Franck Nivard, trainer Anders Lindqvist and owner Anette Holmgren. The 8/4/1 Attaque Parisienne (8f Hulk des Champs) was fifth ahead of 38/1 Belina Josselyn (7f Love You) and 83/1 Viking Fromentro (9g Capriccio).
Belina Josselyn was making her first start in four months and the J-M Bazire trainee was handled carefully by Romain Congard. She was also handicapped 50 meters and trailed the field until the final bend when Congard let her loose for a short run in the lane.
On Friday evening action was at Vincennes (then opens its famed Winter Meet on October 31). The Prix Klymene (purse 75,000€, 2100 meters autostart, 14 European starters) saw 8/1 Inga In Heaven (5f Orlando Vici-Vasterbofromheaven) score for Franck Ouvrie timed in 1.13.6kr.
Trainer Fredric Wallin also owns the winner. 27/1 Una Bella Gar (5f SJs Photo-Georgette Gar) was second for Matthieu Abrivard, ahead of 2.9/1 Noble Dolly (5f Ready Cash-Harriet Frido) that Alexandre Abrivard reined for trainer J-M Bazire.
The Quinte+ Prix le Parisien (purse 65,000€, 2850 meters, 16 European starters) saw the 11/1 odds Ange de Lune (8g Laetenter Diem-Kera Elle) scored timed in 1.12.3kr.
Matthieu Abrivard teamed, trains and owns the winner. 4.4/1 Cristal du Lupin (6g Ganymede) took second for Antoine Wiels and breeder/owner/trainer J.P. Marmion. 6.3/1 Choriste de Trio, 12/1 Valokaja Hindo and 4.2/1 Tripolini VP completed the top five and the exact order Q+ payoff was 53,022.20€ for the 2€ wager.
Three year old colts contested the Prix Arethusa (purse 50,000€, 2850 meters, 10 starters). The 1.15.1kr timed winner was 3.1/1 odds Fortissimoko (3m The Best Madrik-Avanina) handled by Matthieu Abrivard for trainer J.F. Van Dooyeweerd.
The easy winner bested 2/1 favorite Free Man (3m Ready Cash-Olly Star) reined by Mathieu Mottier, trainer Dominique Mottier and owner J-P Barjon. 3.1/1 Facetieux (3m Niky) was third for Franck Nivard.
Closing out the card was the monte Prix Athamantis (purse 75,000€, 2850 meters, 10 European starters). The 1.13.5kr timed victory went to 1.2/1 favorite Daytona Jet (5f Goetmals Wood-Run For Jet) with Mlle.
Mathilde Collet up for trainer Stephane Meunier. 7.6/1 Zauni (5m Quite Easy) was second for jockey Ronja Walter, ahead of 42/1 Disco des Molands (5g Quitus du Mexique) with Victor Saussaye in the irons. 29/1 Dakar du Rib and 8.5/1 Jerry Mom completed the top five.
Next Sunday at Feurs is the Gr. III Grand Prix du Centre-Est that is expected to draw a classy field that may include Bold Eagle, Uniflosa Bella, Valse de Rêve, Viking Blue, Virgious du Maza, Voltigeur de Myrt, Akim du Cap Vert, Uza Josselyn, Booster Winner, and Coquin Bébé. Stay tuned for the final lineup.
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink