Bold Eagle wins Grand Prix de France

Paris, France – Bold Eagle (5m Ready Cash-Reethi Rah Jet) and driver Franck Nivard overcame a wide journey to inch past leading Timoko (9m Imoko-Kiss Me Coulonces) and Bjorn Goop to win the €400,000 purse Gr. I Grand Prix de France, a UET Master Series event contested over 2100 meters autostart at Vincennes.

Heavy rain earlier in the program dulled the race track. Fractions were 1.09.4kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.09.4kr at the 1000; 1.10.6kr at the 500 and 1.10,7kr at the finish (a mile rate of 1:53.59). The leading pair started from post positions eight and seven and were off at 2/5 and 4.6/1 odds, respectively. Voltiguer de Myrt, Anna Mix and Bird Parker were next to the line.

Lionel was a disqualification in the 15 horse field after Un Mec d’Heripre was scratched.

The race was competitive from the beginning as Bold Eagle, hot in the pre-race scorings, was taken off the gate as Kadett CD, Oasis Bi and Timoko rushed for the lead.

Oasis Bi prevailed for Franck Ouvrie until Timoko gained front position after the first 600 meters and he faced immediate pressure from Spain’s Trebol and driver Gabriel-Angel Pou Pou. Trebol held gamely and Bold Eagle secured a position behind him into the final bend when Trebol suddenly went right allowing Bold Eagle to get through and move near Timoko.

Timoko moved away to a length lead and then Bold Eagle began a relentless advance finally getting by as the line approached. Voltigeur de Myrt raced well along the pegs to be third about four lengths from the leading pair while Anna Mix rallied strongly for fourth after starting from post 13.

Bold Eagle and Timoko were both timed in 1.10.7kr, well off the record set in 2007 by Kool du Caux of 1.09.8kr.

Pierre Pilarski owns Bold Eagle and Sebastian Guarato does the training. The winners’ career earnings are €1,681,800 with today’s victory.

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnlesslink.com