The field is set for Sunday’s March 12th edition of the Grand Criterium de Vitesse de la Cote d’Azur (Gr. I International for 4-11 year olds, purse 200,000€, 1609 meters autostart) to be raced at Cagnes sur Mer.
11 competitive trotteurs will face the starter with the likely favorite being the great veteran Vivid Wise As (9m Yankee Glide-Temple Blue Chip-Cantab Hall). Vivid has won 12 times in FR and has career earnings of 2,629,788€ that includes winning this race in 2020 and 2021 and a second in 2022 to Etonnant. He was a fast closing second in the 2023 Prix de France to the Prix de Paris winner Ampia Mede SM.
His primary rivals on Sunday include Delia du Pommereux, Vernissage Grif, Moni Viking and Gently de Muze (from the Bazire stable). It was announced this week that Beads had been shipped back to Ulleberg Gard after a win and third in top level Vincennes winter meet races.
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink