Aged stars battle in 120,000€ Groupe IIs

Today’s (June 11) powerhouse Paris-Vincennes harness racing card featured four Groupe II events starting with the Prix Guy le Gonidec (purse 120,000€, 2700 meters, female four year olds).

Here the even-money favorite Idylle Speed (4f Carat Williams-Prudence du Ham) scored in 1.13.4kr with Jean Michel Bazire aboard for trainer F.P. Bossuet and owner Franck Morineau.

This was her sixth career win now for 249,200€ earned. The 6.1/1 Inmarosa (4f Amiral Sacha) took second with Leo Abrivard teaming as she bested the 9/1 third fishing Ivanka de Jilme (4f Ni Ho Ped d’Ombree) with Matthieu Abrivard driving. I Want You (4f Ganymede) was fourth for Louis Baudron.

In the Prix Jules Thibault (Gr. II, purse 120,000€, 2700 meters, four year olds) the 1.2/1 co- favorite Izoard Vedaquais (4m Bird Parker-Dokha Vedaquaise) rallied for a narrow victory timed in 1.11.7kr.

Eric Raffin teamed the winner for owner/trainer Philippe Allaire. The J.P. Guay bred colt now has 14 career wins for 538,600€ earned. The 1.2/1 co-favorite Idao de Tillard (4m Severino) was a game second with Clement Duvaldestin up for trainer Thierry Duvaldestin and owner Cyril Sevestre. Third home was 30/1 Invictus Madiba (4m Booster Winner) handled by Adrian Lamy for trainer Tomas Malmqvist.

In the Prix Chambon P (Gr. II, purse 120,000€, 2850 meters for 6–10-year-old International performers) the 27/1 odds Gu d’Heripre (6m Coktail Jet-Vedetta d’Heripre) held on for the 1.14.1kr score with J.Ph. Monclin up for Ecurie d’Heripre and trainer Fabrice Souloy. Gu won on the front with very rated fractions to record his 14^th career victory now for 830,100€ earned.

The fractions were 1.17.2kr with 1500 meters remaining; 1.16.2kr at the 1000 and 1.15.2kr with 500 meters to go. The 3.1/1 odds Elie de Beaufour (8g Royal Dream) rallied to be second for Jean Michel Bazire and 52/1 Galius (6m Love You) was third for Yoann Lebourgeois. Ampia Mede SM and Feydeau Seven were miscue dq’s.

In the Prix Jean le Gonidec (Gr. II, purse 120,000€, 2175 meters, five year olds) the well-regarded 9/10 odds favorite Hohneck (5m Royal Dream-Caranca) scored in 1.10.8kr with a front stepping victory. Francois Legadeuc teamed this Philippe Allaire owned and trained trotteur that was bred by J.P. Guay.Hohneck won for the 16^th time in his career and advanced his earnings to 979,790€.

The 44/1 odds Hokkaido Jiel (5m Brillantissime) took second for David Thomain and trainer J.L. Dersoir. Third was 18/1 Have A Dream (5m Royal Dream) with trainer Matthieu Abrivard aboard. Hooker Berry (5m Booster Winner) captured fourth at 3/1 for Jean Michel Bazire.

Today at Ostersund was the Gr.II International Jamtlands Stora Pris (700,000SEK first money, 2140 meters autostart) with victory earned by Vernissage Grif handled by Alessandro Gocciadoro. The son of Varenne-Dalia Grif-Park Avenue Joe improved his slate to 35-17-14 in 106 starts for 8,744,109SEK earned.

For complete race results, click here.

Tomorrow the top International event is the Oslo Grand Prix with the following lineup at the start.

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink