180,000€ Grand Prix des Maritimes won by a nose

Vivid Wise As (8m Yankee Glide-Temple Blue Chip) won today’s Gr. II International Grand Prix du Department des Alpes Maritimes (Challenge du Trot a Grande Vitesse, purse 180,000€, 1609 meters autostart) at the Hippodrome Cote D’Azur parked the distance and with Matthieu Abrivard aboard.

The Alessandro Gocciadoro trainee is owned by Scuderia Bivans Srl and he recorded his 12^th victory in France, fourth in this event, now for 2,219,048€ earned. Race time was 1.09.1kr (mile rate 1:51,2). Vivid Wise As previously won in 1.09.5kr in 2021, 1.09.8kr in 2020 and 1.08.6kr in 2019, the first two with Gocciadoro driving.

Off at 1.1/1 odds Vivid defeated 9/10 favorite Etonnant (8m Timoko-Migraine) handled by Anthony Barrier. This one set the pace after taking the lead from 12/1 Bleff Dipa and he was headed by Vivid by nearly a half a length before battling back to narrowly miss by a nose.

Bleff Dipa (5m Mister JP-Preziosa JW) held on for third with Roberto Vecchione up for trainer H.K. Ehlert and owner J.P. Barjon. 21/1 Delia du Pommereux (9f Niky-Noune du Pommereux) was fourth for David Thomain. What a race this was between two of the best trotters currently racing before a large crowd.

To watch the race replay, click here.

LeTrot, Cagnes sur Mer files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink