Un Mec d’Heripre wins Prix du Bourbonnais

December 13, 2015 – Today’s Prix Octave Douesnel (purse €120,000. Gr. II for four year-olds, 2700 meters, eight starters) went impressively to the 3/10 favored Bold Eagle (4m Ready Cash-Reethi Rah Jet) for teamster Franck Nivard, trainer Sebastien Guarato and owner Pierre Pilarski clocked in 1.12.9kr for a three-length victory. 4.3/1 Briac Dark (4m Prince Gede-Queen des Charmes), an early pacesetter, was second for trainer/driver Franck Anne and owner Guy Barou. Third went to 51/1 Boeing du Bocage (4m Scipion du Goutier-Lova du Cap Vert) reined by Pierre Vercruysse for trainer Franck Leblanc. Bird Parker (4m Ready Cash-Belisha) landed fourth. Bold Eagle was first to the lead and then settled in a pocket spot until sprinting out in upper stretch (fractions 1.14.3kr at 1500, 1.13kr at 1000 and 500). Bold Eagle could be one to watch in the 2016 Prix d’Amerique despite being age five at that time. The Eagle won today for the seventh time in 2015 in just eight appearances.

The featured Quinte+ (jackpot €4.2 million) Criterium des 3 Ans (Gr. I, purse €240,000, 2700 meters, 14 starters) went to 5.7/1 odds Charly du Noyer (3m Ready Cash-Ornella Jet) driven by Yoann Lebourgeois for trainer Philippe Allaire and owner Olivier Henri Thomas clocked in 1.13.6kr. This one narrowly scored in a photo over 6.1/1 Cobra Bleu (3m Foruna Fant-Nuit Irisee) trained and reined by Pierre Vercruysse for owner G.E. Morin. Third was 16.7/1 Combattante (3f Sam Bourbon-New York) handled by Damien Bonne for owner/trainer Louis Baudron. Rated fractions set up a quick sprint home by the leading pair (1.15kr at 1500, 1.13.9kr at 1000, 1.14.2kr at 500).

The second “B”, named the Prix du Bourbonnais (Gr. II UET Masters Series International, purse €120,000, 2850 meters distance handicap, 13 starters after scratching of Delicious), went to the 1.2/1 favorite Un Mec d’Heripre (7m Orlando Vici-I Love You Darling) handled by Franck Nivard for Fabrice Souloy training for Ecurie d’Heripre. The 1.14.7kr winner held off 16.8/1 Moses Rob (9m Ganymede-Etoile Rob) reined by Pierre Levesque for Italy’s Scuderia Sole Che Sorgi with third to 2.6/1 Village Mystic (6m Love You-Natchka d’Orgeres) teamed by Damien Bonne for trainer/owner Louis Baudron. Vision Intense and Solea Riveliere were next followed by Texas Charm (extra 25 meters), Olmo Holz, Tiego d’Etang (extra 25 meters), Trebol (traveled the death seat and weakened) and Up and Quick (extra 25 meters). Fractions were very modest in the early going (1.16.5kr at 1500 meters to go, 1.15.8kr at 1000, 1.15.5kr at 500). Texas Charm, Tiego d’Etang and Up and Quick were all timed in 1.14.3kr or faster.

Two year-olds battled in the Prix des Jacinthes (purse €40,000, 2700 meters, 11 starters) with victory to 3.9/1 Dollar Macker (2m Saxo de Vandel-Salt Lake City) timed in 1.16.7kr for Yoann Lebourgeois, trainer Philippe Allaire and owner Olivier Henri Thomas. This promising youngster held off fast-closing Ducato Bourbon (2m Love You-Kamera Bourbon) handled by J-M Bazire for trainer Franck Leblanc, with third to 37/1 Dragon des Racques (2m Love You-Quinte des Racques) driven by Alexandre Abrivard. Fractions were modest setting up a rapid final 500 meters (1.19.2kr at 1500 to go mark, 1.17.4kr at 1000, 1.17.2kr at 500). The winner was the second score today for the Allaire/Thomas team.

Thomas H. Hicks