Late rally wins 200,000€ Grand Criterium

Vivid Wise As (9m Yankee Glide-Temple Blue Chip-Cantab Hall) rallied from the clouds for driver Matthieu Abrivard (eighth at mid-stretch) to reel in the leaders at 8/10 odds to win his third Gr. I Grand Criterium de Vitesse de la Cote d’Azur (purse 200,000€, 1609 meters, International 4–11-year-olds) at Cagnes sur Mer in France Sunday, March 12.

He was timed in 1.09.1kr (mile 1:51.1) to record his 13^th victory in France now for 2,719,788€ in career earnings, to capture this third leg of the UET Elite Circuit. Scuderia Bivans Srl owns this magnificent champion that Alessandro Gocciadoro trains.

He started from post seven and narrowly defeated 12/1 Emeraude de Bais (9f Repeat Love-Haute Tension) that started from post 11 and was reined by Franck Nivard for trainer Benjamin Goetz. Gently de Muze (7m Perlando-Obade Mancellerie) was third at 6.7/1 with Christophe Martens teaming this Jean Michel Bazire trainee that Yannick Desmer owns.

The pacesetter Vernisage Grif (9m Varenne) held gamely to be fourth for trainer/driver Gocciadoro. Go On Boy (7m Password) was fifth for trainer/driver Romain Derieux ahead of Moni Viking and Charmant de Zack.

To watch the race replay, click here.

On the undercard was the Prix de Rome Tor di Valle (purse 48,000€, 2925 meters, European 7–11-year-olds) and 15/1 odds Cagnoise d’Agon (11f Jag de Bellouet-Noblesse de Larre) scored down the middle for owner/driver Y-A Briand and trainer Yohann Harel.

The veteran winning mare recorded her 12^th career win now for 355,150€ earned. Eberton (9g Jag de Bellouet) held second for J.Ch. Sorel driving for trainer Junior Guelpa off at 3.9/1 odds. The 22/1 Esperanza (9g Speedy Blue) was third for trainer/driver David Bekaert.

The Cagnes sur Mer raceway was in great condition today under a sunny sky and with a large audience on hand.

LeTrot, Cagnes sur Mer files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink