Uppercut de Manche (6g Neutron du Cebe-Nuit de Manche-Coktail Jet) easily took today's Gr. II International UET Masters Series Prix de Londres (€120,000 purse, 2875 meters, 13 starters) monte test at Hippodrome Enghien-Soisy.
Damien Bonne reined the winner (to his 12th career win for €294,450 life earnings), trained by Thierry Reffegeau for owner Jean-Yves Roze. Timed in 1.13kr, the winner, off at 2.1/1 odds, vanquished veteran ten year-old Quarlos with Mathieu Mottier aboard, with 68/1 Risque Tout third for Philippe Masschaele, who rode in Canada this past weekend. Well-regarded Sam Gibus and Rapide Lebel were disqualified.
The exceptional Enghien card today also included the €80,000 Prix de la Porte d'Italie (European, 2875 meters, 11 starters) that went to Ravenna with Franck Nivard up for trainer Fabrice Souloy. The Denmark registered six year-old son of Legendary Lover K-Coccola Jet-Supergill scored in 1.14.3kr at 4.7/1 odds to record his ninth career win, now for €205,126 earnings.
Vabellino, the 9/10 favorite, was second for Eric Raffin and trainer Fabrice Souloy, with Italian invaders Plutonio (5m Self Possessed) third for Franck Ouvrie and Olimpus Caf (6m Varenne) fourth for Damien Bonne.
The €70,000 Prix de la Concorde (European, 2875 meters, 12 starters) went to Sometime (8f Blue Dream-Isaline Fortiniere-Vikings Way) at 2.6/1 odds for reinsman Christophe Martens and trainer Vincent Martens.
The mare recorded her 10th career win for €395,360 as she overcame a 25 meter handicap. Recital du Lys was second for Damien Bonne and Saphir de Fille, also handicapped 25 meters, ended third for Eric Raffin.
Well-regarded Alex The Winner (4m Orlando Vici-Likely Jet-Defi d'Aunou) took the Prix de Nouzonville (€65,000 purse, 2875 meters, 14 starters) that was the Quinte+ race of the day, with a €3 million jackpot. Owner/trainer Jean-Etienne Dubois teamed the winner, timed in 1.15.1kr, to his sixth career win, now for earnings of €145,370. Off at 3/1, Alex The Winner defeated Atout du Lerre, with trainer Franck Anne aboard at 16/1, and third place Act Of Love, at 24/1 for Mathieu Mottier. The fourth and fifth place finishers were off at 14/1 and 28/1 and the exact order €2 ticket interestingly paid only €11,590. Win/place only handle on the Q+ race was over €998,600.
Thomas H. Hicks
