Groupe Events at Paris Vincennes

December 12, 2015 – Top harness racing action took place today at Paris-Vincennes as the card included three Groupe races and several other upper class events.

Belina Josselyn (4f Love You-Lezia Josselyn) and J-M Bazire was the upset (odds 6/1) winner of the Gr. II Prix Ariste Hemard (purse €120,000, 2700 meters, 11 four year-old female starters) rallying to defeat 7/10 favorite Billie de Montfort (4f Jasmin de Flore-Quismy de Montfort) handled by Eric Raffin for trainer Sebastien Guarato. 53/1 Bambina Magic (4f Nuage de Lait-Rive Magic) was third for Mathieu Mottier. Billie was away to an early lead and then relinquished to 3.6/1 odds Blue Grass that led until making a disqualifying miscue in mid-stretch. Billie was boxed on the pegs until driver Raffin vacated the pocket in early stretch, could not find an opening, and then darted back inside but could not out close the winner. As Billie moved back inside Blue Grass went off-stride. The race time was 1.14.2kr off lazy fractions (1.15.2kr at 1500, 1.14.5kr at 1000, 1.15.1kr at 500 meters to go)

The €85,000 purse Prix de Seiches-sur-le-Loir (distance 2175 meters, 12 monte starters) went to 3.1/1 Vincent des Obeaux (6g Derby du Gite-Leila) ridden by Julien Raffestan for the training/owning pair of Alain and Arnard Chavatte. The winner was timed in 1.12.5kr off quick fractions (1.08.6kr at 1500; 1.09.9kr at 1000, 1.12.9kr with 500 to go). 68/1 Viking de Tremahou (6g Flash de Cosse-Lia Fortuna) was second with third to Vailant Cash (6m Offshore Dream-Kara du Redan) at 57/1. 11/1 And Gibus (5g Diamant Gede-Ok Lady) finished fourth.

The €60,000 purse, 2100 meters autostart Prix d’Hautefort with 18 European contestants went to 5.2/1 Ultra de Vindecy (7g Jasmin de Flore-Nora The Best)  racing barefoot for Eric Raffin and trainer Serge Peltier. This one scored career victory 13 in 46 starts, now for earnings in excess of €240,000. 5.7/1 Urus (7g Kiwi-Troika de Mai), also shoeless, was next for J-M Bazire while 5.2/1 Ustou (7g Niky-Oh Manon) landed third for David Thomain. Race time was a quick 1.11.8kr after a sharp pace.

The Gr. II Prix Raoul Balliere (purse €120,000, 2175 meters, seven starters after one scratch) went to 5.8/1 Caline des Plages (3f Scipion du Goutier-Nuit de la Marfee) with Franck Nivard up for trainer Franck Leblanc and Ecurie de l’Empereur. The winner, a reluctant starter, was timed in 1.13.8kr with a front-end score off even-fractions (1.13kr at 1500, 1.13.2kr at 1000, 1.14kr at 500). This one held strongly despite a washed-out nervous beginning. 1/1 favorite Che Jenilou (3m Goetmals Wood-Pirogue Jenilou) was second for Eric Raffin, trainer Sebastien Guarato and Antonio De Sousa. 4.6/1 Chiricahua (3f Pomerol de Laumac-Phoenix Arizona) landed the third spot in this event for three year-olds.

The €75,000 purse Prix de Crecy la Chapelle (2850 meters, 18 starters, Quinte+ with jackpot €4.15 million) went to the 2.1/1 favorite Universal Rider (7m Nahar de Breval-Hanska) racing barefoot for driver Mathieu Mottier. 4/1 Venue de Bailly (6f Chaillot-Oceane de Bailly) was solid second for J-M Bazire ahead of 29/1 outsider Vulcania de Godrel (6f Memphis du Rib-Julietta) with Franck Nivard up. Time of the winner was 1.13.4kr off even fractions (1.14.8 at 1500 meters to go; 1.14.2kr at 1000, 1.13.5kr at 500 mark as the pace quickened).

The Gr. III Pri Narquois (purse €95,000, 2700 meters, 13 starters) was underway after two false-starts and 2.2/1 Alderman (5g Phlegyas-Initia) raced out to 15 length lead for Eric Raffin after surging ahead of early leader Altesse du Mirel (5g Ready Cash-Ina de Mirel) and trainer/driver Pierre Vercruysse. 4.3/1 Altesse then raced third on the pegs before escaping top stretch to begin narrowing the leader’s advantage but Alderman held strong for a two-length victory clocked in 1.12.5kr (1.11.5kr at 1500, 1.11.6kr at 1000, 1.12.7kr at 500 to go). 4.7/1 Aubrion de Melodie (5g Memphis du Rib-J;Arrive du Gers) was third for owner/trainer/driver J-M Bazire, seven lengths in arrears

Thomas H. Hicks