December 18, 2016 – The Q+ Prix Jean Dumouch (purse €115,000, 2850 meters, 18 European starters) went to 1.13.7kr timed and 7.3/1 Viking Va Bene (m Rite On Line-Iriana du Mont). Matthieu Abrivard teamed the Thierry Duvaldestin trained Norwegian owned trotter. 4.7/1 Val Royal (7m Capriccio-Quanda du Rib) was second with trainer Jean-Michel Bazire up for breeder/owner Ecurie des Charmes. Third was the 2.2/1 favorite Indigious (7m Prodigious-Indication) from Germany, driven by Franck Nivard for trainer Fabrice Souoy.
The Prix Albert Rayon (Gr. II three year-old fillies, purse €76,000, 2100 meters, 12 starters) went to well-bred and 1.4/1 favorite Dream Life (3f Royal Dream-Union Of My Life) timed in 1.14.3kr. The impressive filly rallied late for the two length victory driven by breeder Jean-Philippe Dubois for owner Ecurie Victoria Dreams and trainer Philippe Moulin. Royal Dream was a Prix d’Amerique winner when he powered past Ready Cash in mid-stretch. 9.8/1 Dorla Desbois (3f In Love With You-Naniez) held second for owner/trainer/driver Christopher Feyte. Third was 22.7/1 Douceur de Vie (3f Rocklyn-Resless) for Eric Raffin, trainer Philippe Moulin and Ecurie Victoria Dreams. Jean-Philippe Dubois also bred this one.
Brooklyn Bridge (5g Quatre Julliet-Mysterious Valley) took the Prix de Poissy (monte, purse €50,000, 2175 meters, eight starters) at 6.9/1 for driver Franck Nivard, trainer Franck Leblanc , owner Manuel Garcia and the breeder was Ecurie D. Race time was 1.13.8kr. 17/1 Besama Mucho (5g Cygnus d’Odyssee-Mille Et Une Nuits) was second with David Thomain up for trainer Alain Roussel. 7/10 favorite Bunkes de Retz (5g First de Retz-Nymphe Turgot) was third handled by Joann Lebourgeois for breeder/owner Ecurie des Charmes and trainer Ake Kristoffersson.
On December 17 at Treviso was the 37th Palio Nazionale (purse €36,300, 2060 meters) and the 1.14kr winner was Stonehenge MMG (5m Ganymede-La Elma MMG-Toss Out) with Mass Castaldo up. Patrick As (7m Pine Chip-Gelosis dei Fiori-Waikiki Beach) took second and third was Shaghy (5g Gigant Neo-Maui Bi-Varenne) for Enrico Baldi.
Upcoming featured events in FR and ITY follow:
Prix Pierre Giffard, 12/20 monte purse €85,000, 2850 meters autostart, at Paris Vincennes
Prix Sans Dire Oui, 12/23 Gr. III monte European, purse €105,000, 2850 meters, Paris Vincennes
Prix Emmanuel Margouty, 12/23 Gr. II two year-old colts, purse €120,000, 2175 meters
Prix Une de Mai, 12/24 Gr. II, purse €120,000, 2175 meters, Paris-Vincennes
Prix Jules Lemonnier, 12/24 Gr. II monte International, purse €120,000, 2175 meters
Prix Constant Hervieu, 12/24 Gr. III European, purse €105,000, 2875 meters
Prix de Strasbourg, 12/24 purse €88,000, 2700 meters
Criterium Continental, 12/25 Paris-Vincennes, Gr. I purse €240,000, 2100 meters autostart
Prix de Vincennes, 12/25 Gr. I monte, purse €240,000, 2700 meters
Prix Emile Riotteau, 12/25 Gr. II monte, purse €120,000, 2700 meters
Prix Tenor de Baune, 12/25 Gr. II International, purse €120,000, 2700 meters
Gran Premio Allevatori, 12/26 Gr. I purse €187,000, 2100 meters autostart, Rome Italy
Gran Premio Allevatori Filly, Gr. II purse €66,000, 1640 meters autostart
Gala International del Trotto, Gr. I UET Masters Series, purse €110,000, 2100 meters autostart
Thomas H. Hicks