Today’s harness racing action at Hippodrome Chartres resulted in their €35,000 purse Grand Prix de la Ville de Chartres (2800 meters, 16 starters) going to the Franck Nivard teamed, 1.3/1 favorite, Urbain The Best (8g Lilium Madrik-Frivole des Bois). Timed in 1.16.7kr the F-J Peltier trainee bested 3.3/1 Vinci d’Em (7g Insert Gede-Classical Star) with Franck Ouvrie aboard and the 99.5/1 outsider Voyou des Gacheres (7g Ni Ho Ped d’Ombree-Ogeliniere) that finished third for J.Cl. Maucour.
Also at Chartres was the €21,000 Prix du Centre Nautique “l’Odyssee” over 2800 meters with 16 starters. This distance handicap event was for apprentice lad drivers. The 1.17kr winner was 4.3/1 Votre President (7g Love You-Nanyotiere) with Yann Lorin aboard for trainer P.A Rynwalt-Boulard. 5.2/1 Angel Dark (6g Look de Star-Ouadrata des Jipes) rallied to be a close second for driver Jorgen Berggren, and trainer/co-owner Anders Lindqvist along with Peter Gerry. 3.8/1 Vito des Lardiers (7g Paisy Dream-Jenny Vinoir) was third for Benjamin Bonne and trainer Gaeten Ligeron. The top three each overcame 25 meter handicaps.
Trotting on turf has also resumed in FR and today’s feature was at Fougeres where the Prix de Ministere de l’Agriculture (purse €35,000, 3200 meters, 16 starters) went to 5.1/1 Voldakir (7m Olimede-Quanta Gioia) for owner/trainer/driver Jean-Philippe Borodajko. 2/1 favorite Vif Pin (7g Millenium Wood-Nogara) was second for Thomas Levesque in the 1.33.1kr timed event over soft grass. 5.5/1 Ascot de l’Olsin (6g Lilum Madrik-Fuldera) ended third for Glenny Delaume.
At Reims the Grand Prix du Champagne Canard Duchene (purse €30,000, 2600 meters, 11 starters) went to the 1.13.9kr timed, 1.4/1 favored Viatka Madrik (7f Jeanbat du Vivier-Natly Pride) for owner/trainer/driver Gaetan Ligeron. 1.7/1 second choice After River (6f Quaker Jet-Ogusa de la Merite) ended second for Pierre Vercruysse and trainer Sebastien Guarato with third to 7.2/1 Action du Chatelet (6f Opium-Olvera du Chatelet) handled by Mickael Chareul for trainer Christian Jouenne.
At Beaumont de Lomagne the Prix Maurice Roucolle (purse €25,000, 2950 meters autostart, 13 European starters) went to 1.16.1kr timed and 9/10 odds favorite Trailing Edge (7m Scarlet Knight-Veda Sund) handled by Dominik Locqueneux, trainer Robert Bergh and Ecurie Rally of Sweden. 14.3/1 A Nous Bosdarros (6g Lilium Madrik-Libellu le du Coq) was second ahead of third finishing, 10.6/1 odds Avenir d’Or (6g Orlando Vici-Epec d’Or).
At Trieste Italy’s 805 meter track, the €45,100 Premio Giorgio Jegher (1660 meters autostart) went to the 1.14kr timed Superbo Capar (5m Calypso Capar-Dark Degli Ulivi-Indro Park) for driver Giuseppe Lombardo Jr. This winner scored his 13th career win in 56 starts and increased his career earnings to over €150,000. Seattle Bi (5f Equinox Bi-Las Vegas Bi-Toss Out) was second for Alessandro Gocciadoro with Sharon Gar (5f Varenne-Geneve Gar-Lemon Dra) third for V.P. Dell’Annunziata. Supermar (5m SJ’s Photo-Gianne de Vie-Angus Hall) was fourth with Roberto Andreghetti up and Romi MMS (6f Turbo Sund-Goldy LB-Self Possessed) was fifth for Mitja Slavic.
Thomas H. Hicks