Saturday’s (Dec. 10) card co-featured at the Hippodrome Paris-Vincennes was the Prix Ariste Hemard (SWC 5 Ans Q2, Gr. II, purse 120,000€, International four year olds, 2700 meters) and the 33/1 odds outsider Cash Bank Bigi (4f The Bank-Settenite Club) rallied to win for harness racing driver Benjamin Rochard, owner Rossano Biselli and trainer Fabrice Souloy timed in 1.12.8kr.
This was her third career victory now for 173,460€ earned. The sire of the winner now stands in Canada. Second was 1.9/1 favorite Inmarosa (4f Amiral Sacha-Varkava) with Leo Abrivard up and 18/1 Isla Bonita (4f Love You-Bomba) was third with David Thomain up for trainer Philippe Allaire.
In the Prix Octave Douesnwl (Gr. II SWC 5 Ans Q1, purse 120,000€, International currently four-year-old males) the 23/1 outsider Instrumentaliste (4m Ready Cash-Ulzhame) rallied up to score in 1.12.5kr for driver Gabriel Gelormini, trainer Sebastien Guarato and owner Gianni Fascella.
This victory advanced his career earnings to 249,350€ with this his eighth lifetime win. Italiano Vero (4m Ready Cash-Baraka d’Henlou) was a 5/1 odds second with David Thomain at the lines for owner/trainer Philippe Allaire. The 9/10 favorite Idao de Tillard (4m Severino-America de Tillard) was third handled by Clement Duvaldestin for owner Cyril Sevestre and trainer Thierry Duvaldestin.
On the undecarrd the Gr. III Prix Narquois (purse 80,000€, 2700 meters, European five year olds) saw the “shoe-on” 6.9/1 odds Horsy Dream (5m Scipion du Goutier-Bonanza du Closet) score on the front end for pilot Eric Raffin, Ecurie du Closet and trainer Pierre Belloche.
This 12th career victory increased the winner’s earnings to 289,470€. Heliot de Cahot (5g Un Charme Fou) was second at 5.4/1 for Alexandre Abrivard and third home was 3.8/1 First Blood (5m Prodigious) for trainer/driver Jean Michel Bazire.
In tomorrow’s featured Prix du Bourbonnais the veteran Gu d’Heripre was scratched sick today, leaving well balanced 15 horse field for this Gr. II second qualifier for the Prix d;Amerique.
LeTrot files/photos
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink