On February 27 at Son Pardo (Spain) the Gran Premi Govern de les Illes Balears (purse €9,000, 2150 meters autostart, 12 starters) went to 1.1.7kr winner, 4.9/1 odds Vitorino Mar (7m Captain Cook-Stina Sas) for G. Andreau over 1/1 Vastervik Jazz (7m And Arifant-Lepere de l’Iton) for driver Jme Fluxa with 12/1 Vanuit Bg home third.
At Enghien the Prix de Mimizan (purse €70,000, 2250 meters, 12 European monte starters) went to 7/1 Ultra Or (8g Orlando Vici-Petra du Chene) for Anthony Barrier, trainer Fabrice Souloy and Ecurie AB Trot. The 1.13.1kr timed winner bested 2/1 favorite Art On Line (9g Rite On Line-Las Fleur) for Damien Bonne, trainer Souloy and Team Art On Line AB. 4/1 Vincent des Obeaux finished third for Julien Raffestin ahead of Orionne Spin and jockey Camille Levesque.
At Halmstad the Saturday V75 Gold for 150,000SEK first prize went to Nothing But Class (7m Andover Hall-Bold Dreamer0Donerail) with Orjan Kihlstrom up. The 3.4/1 favorite was bred by Valley High Stable. Spring Erom (11m Gentle Star-Springflickan-Prince Mystic) was second at 8.8/1 for Bjorn Goop with third to 45/1 Edward Ale (8g Here Comes Herbie-Mustang Donna-Pine Chip) with Peter Ingves up for trainer Petri Puro (formerly handler of the legendary Commander Crowe).
Also at Halmstad their V75 Silver for a first prize of 125,000SEK went to West Wing (8g Steinlager-Westgate-Niton) for Johan Untersteiner, also trainer. Stall Victory HB owns the 3.2/1 winner that defeated For Pleasure As (7m Abano As-Frill Aas-Pine Chip) with Conrad Lugauer up at 9/1 odds. Third was 44/1 Go Green Pellini (8m Love You-Sparkling Pellini-Giant Chill) with Peter Ingves up for trainer Petri Puro. Also on the card aged mares went to 100,000SEK first money with 5.5/1 Donna du Quattro (6f Love You-Whoopie As-SJ’s Photo) scoring for Bjorn Goop and trainer Tomas Malmqvist for owner Langebro Konsult AB. Georgie Mae (6f Valley Victory-Missysmandarine-Malabar Man) was second for Johnny Taker at 9/1 with third to Jetset (7f Juliano Star-Superlet-Super Arnie). Other US-registered imports in the beaten field included Fleetfoot Hanover, Single Sock and Blue Martini As.
Thomas H. Hicks