Vivid Wise As wins Grande Vitesse Challenge

The Gr. II International GP de Departement des Alpes (purse 150,000€, 1609 meters autostart) was the Cagnes sur Mer feature event today in France and the Grande Vitesse Challenge it was as 3/10 odds Vivid Wise As (7m Yankee Glide-Temple Blue Chip) scored in 1.09.5kr (mile rate 1:51.8).

Matthieu Abrivard teamed this Alessandro Gocciadoro trainee for Scuderia Bivans as Vivid won for the eighth time in France and raised his life earnings to 1,486,073€.

The 9/1 odds Drole de Jet (8m Coktail Jet-Likely Jet) was a following second timed in 1.09.7kr for trainer/driver Pierre Vercruysse and owner Ecurie Hunter Valley. Third was 29/1 Elsa de Belfonds (7f Tornado Bello-Taifa) for trainer/driver Nicolas Ensch. Alcoy (7m Ready Cash-Divann) was fourth for Christophe Martens.

The Prix de Montegiorgio (purse 39,000€, 2700 meters autostart, European 7-10 year olds) began the Cagnes sur Mer action today and the 1.2/1 odds favorite Tjacko Zaz (9g Crazed-Kinoras Zaz-Angus Hall) prevailed in 1.12.6kr with Christophe Martens aboard.

Jean Michel Bazire trains this one and he has recorded seven wins in France in 19 starts to advance his life earnings to 265,238€. Driver Martens engineered a superb drive for the winner that took the top with a lap to go and kept rivals at bay to the wire.

The 2.2/1 Eadshot Josselyn (7g The Best Madrik – Vezia Josselyn) was second for Matthieu Abrivard and 2.3/1 Esprit Mystic (7g Village Mystic) was third for trainer/driver Nicolas Ensch. Emiliano finished fourth for Stephane Cingland.

The Prix de la Capelle (purse 45,000€, 2925 meters, five year olds) began the regional stakes events this day and 17/1 Gipson Creek (5m Rieussec-Ultifede) scored in 1.13.3kr with Pierrick Le Moel at the lines.

Nathalie Gonin is the winning is his trainer, owner and breeder. Gipson Creek won for the 16^th time in his career, now for 187,470€ earned. Gangster Davaness took second for J. Ch. Sorel and third home was Gordon Flash for David Bekaert.

Fakir de Ranch (6g Rockfeller Center-Great Glory), off at 9/1 odds, took the Prix d’Argentan (purse 45,000€, 2925 meters for six year olds) timed in 1.12.7kr for reinsman Steve Stefano, trainer Y.A. Briand and Ecurie Buisson. Fakir won for the 14^th time in his career and advanced his life earnings to 180,680€. Firello was second for Christophe Martens and Fiholo Frezeen took the third spot for Nicolas Ensch.

Haiko Dream (4m Ready Cash-Amelia Jet) produced another victory for reinsman Christophe Martens, as the colt was timed in 1.14.6kr in this Prix de Jagersro (purse 45,000€, 2925 meters for four year olds. Vincent Martens trains the winner for Ecurie Meydan as he won for the fifth time now for 110,700€ earned.

In the Prix Pisoni (the “Timoko”), (purse 45,000€, 2925 meters, three year olds) the unbreaten Ivoire Prestamce (3m Prodigious-Quelle Prestance) extended the streak to seven with a 1.16kr score to raise his career earnings to 91,800€.

Christophe Martens was the pilot for owner Joseph Vanduffel and trainer Vincent Martens. Ingrid Turgot (3f Un Mec d’Heripre-Urfee Turgot) was second for Nicolas Ensch.

LeTrot, Hippodrome Cote d’Azur at Cagnes sur Mer

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink