January 6, 2016 – Friday’s harness racing action was at Cagnes sur Mer headed by the Prix de la d’Argent (monte, purse €32,000, 2825 meters, 12 starters). The 1.14.7kr timed open-lengths winner was 5.2/1 Veritable Crack (8g Little Crack-Narvale Somolli) ridden by F. Desmigneaux for trainer Vincent Martens. Second was 2/1 Verdi de Carrelis (8g Nahar de Beval-Mine de Tillard) with R. leCreps up. Third was 38/1 Volnico la Vallee (8g Le Retoru-Nora du Cadran) handled by R. Thonnerieu.
The Prix Jain de Beval (purse €26,000, 2925 meters, 15 starters) went to 6.8/1 odds, 1.16.4kr timed, Urion de Piervive (9g Chaillot-Nestoria Marceaux) reined by trainer/driver Junior Guelpa. Second was 2.7/1 Arthus Mijoro (7g Ni Ho Ped d’Ombree-KJoline Jamas) with Christophe Martens up for trainer Vincent Martens. 70.2/1 Voici de Lahaye (8g Meaulnes du Corta-Pearl du Boscail) was third for J.Ch. Feron, also the trainer.
Cagnes sur Mer races trot and gallop during the spring season, often in conjunction with Paris-Vincennes, where the races of the two venues are off every 15 minutes on the simulcasting networks. Shortly after completion of the FR Triple Crown (Amerique, Paris and France) the spectacular Cagnes sur Mer hosts groupe international mile distance classic.
Thomas H. Hicks