Four 120,000€ Groupe II races held at Vincennes

Jack Tonic (5m Charly du Noyer-Class de Touchyvon) took today’s (April 13) Prix Robert Auvray at Paris-Vincennes (Gr. II, purse 120,000€, 2700 meters, 11 five-year old males) timed in 1.12.5kr. Off at 14/1 odds Jack Tonic was victorious when Jiocio de Phyts went offstride late in the lane while two lengths in front.

He was the pacesetter parking the favorite Jason. Jack Tonic was reined by Theo Duvaldestin for Thierry Duvaldestin training for Ecurie Haras des Quatra Verts.

Finishing second was 6.6/1 Jag Stryck (5m Bretigny-Perrine des Ulmes handled by Francois Lagadeuc for Cyrille Buhigne training for Marc Cartier as owner/breeder. Home third was a very game 1.6/1 odds favorite Jason (5m Love You-Begum Fromentro-Meaulnes du Corta) reined by Thomas Levesque for breeder/owner/trainer Pierre Levesque.

J’Aime le Foot (5m Boccador de Simm) ended fourth at 3.7/1 odds with David Thomain up for conditiomer Antoine L’Herete and fifth was 19/1 Jewel de la Cote (5m Carat Williams) piloted by Eric Raffin for Sebastien Guarato. The track and weather were superb at legendary Hippodrome Paris-Vincennes.

To watch the race replay, click here.

On the undercard were three more Gr. II events starting with the Prix Henri Levesque (purse 120,000€ purse, 2700 meters, 14 starters all five-year-old females). Here the 19/1 odds Jewelcandle Fac (5f Prodigious-Thebaide) scored timed in 1.13.0kr. Damien Bonne teamed and trains the winner for Sebastien Guarato. She now has six career wins in 29 starts for 232,600€ earned.

The 3.9/1 odds Joconde Sibey (5f Timoko-Varade d’ Hermine) was second with Louis Baudouin aboard for trainer J.M. Baudouin and owner Yannick Desmet. Jeegha Pride (5f Charly du Noyer-Bagheera Pride) was third at 8.7/1 for Theo Duvaldestin, trainer Thierry D and owner Catherine Richard. Jasmin de Vau at 24/1 and 42/1 Jain Mab completed the top five. Jazzy Perrine finished seventh, Kust Love You was unplaced, and Jolie Star was a miscue dq.

To watch the race replay, click here.

For the fans of monte trotting the Gr. II Prix Hemine (purse 120,000€, Etrier 3Ans Q3, 2175 meters with 10 three-year-old females at the start) was a great race. The 8.8/1 odds Lyzia des Agets (3f Canadian d’Am-Cara des Agets) scored timed in 1.13.0kr. Paul Philippe Ploquin was the winning jockey for owner/trainer A.P. Grimault.

Lyzia des Agets has now two wins in seven career appearances for 100,600€ earned. Little Orelie (3f Feeling Cash-Orelie de Retz) at 1.3/1 favorite odds was second for trainer/jockey Mathieu Mottier and owner/breeder Luc Vanderhaegen. Libertine Djob (3f Eridan) landed third at 54/1 for Thibaut Dromony and Antonio Ripoll Rigo the trainer/owner. Lyzia des Agets

To watch the race replay, click here.

The Gr. II Prix Gau Brillant (purse 120,000€, monte, 2175 meters for male three-year-olds, the Etrier #Ams Q4) saw 10/1 odds Lutin des Bordes (3m Bilibili-Perle des Bordes) score in 1.13.1kr. Anthony Barrier was the winning jockey for trainer J.P. Monclin and Patrick Joubert. The winner now has three career wins in five outings for 81,815€ earned.

The 1.7/1 odds seond favorite Le Voyou d’Almo (3m Thorens Vedaquais-Etsie de Guez) ended second ridden by Antoine Lamy for trainer Charley Heslouin. Love And Sun (3m Carat Williams) at 9.7/1 was third with 1.5/1 odds favorite Lucky Sibey (3m Etonnant) landing fourth with Eric Raffin in the irons.

Watching youngsters develop is always fun. At Angers (April 11) was one such example in the Prix d’Ecommoy (purse 23,000€, 2350 meters autostart, 16 starters all three-year-olds). Here the 1.13.6kr clocked winner was 2.1/1 odds Lord de Gers (3m Face Time Bourbon-Elle Vient du Gers) that remains unbeaten in two starts for trainer Jean Michel Bazire. Nicolas Bazire teamed the winner this day for J.M. Rancoule. M.B. Anty bred this one that now has earned 17,100€.

Lavasina (3f Face Time Bourbon-Cavalleria) was second at 6.8/1 with Romain Hue up for trainer Sebastien Guarato and owner Ecurie Cactagniccia. The 8.7/1 Lova Blue (3f Golden Bridge-Diva Blue) was third reined by Mathieu Mottier for trainer J.P. Mary.

On a future racing note the superb Go On Boy (8m Password-Banginette) has become the sixth 2024 Elitloppet invitee joining Hohneck, Odai de Tillard, Joviality, Francesco Zet and A Fair Day. Go On Boy has earned 1,196,570€ from 12 victories in 42 career starts and a speed mark of 1.08.4kr.

He was last second in the Criterium du Vitesse and Cagnes and took second at Vincennes in the Prix de France and Prix de Belgique. He was fourth in the Prix d’Amerique in January and last won the Grand Prix de Wallonie at Mons Ghlin. Here he is today working out at Hunter Valley.

Idao de Tillard has been sidelined with illness and will miss prep races before the Elitloppet.

Separately, the $600,000 New Zealand Tab Trot at Cambridge Raceway saw Just Believe, a son of Orlando Vici, win timed in 1.12.8kr, defeating Callmethebreese (Trixton) in a tight finish that also involved Queen Elida (Love You).

Paris-Vincennes, Hippodrome Angers, Province Courses, Trottuer Francais files/photos-harness trots

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink