Cagnes undercard special too

The Criterium de Vitesse undercard also spotlighted a host of interesting winners. Action began with the Prix de Syracuse (purse 33,000€, 2700 meters autostart, 14 European starters) and the 3.9/1 odds Cointreau (6m Nad Al Sheba-Otel Massi) scored for the first time in France from two starts with this 1.13.0kr timed victory. Gabrielle Gelormini teamed this Alessandro Gocciadoro trainee that Samuele Querci owns. The winner has career earnings of 132,494€. The 2.3/1 favorite Ideal de Jean (6g Uniclove-Cassiopee de Jean) was second for trainer/driver Romain Derieux. Third was 34/1 Apocalypto (7g Ganymede-Naomi) with Rene Legati up for Antonio Exposito.

In the Prix de Milan (purse 33,000€, 2700 meters autostart, eight European starters ages 6-10) the 1.12.8kr timed winner was 9/10 odds favorite Icone d’Avenir (6f Niky-Tara de Villeneuve) handled by Eric Raffin for trainer Reinier Feelders and owner Wendy Peron. This winner now has eight career wins in 22 starts for 142,930€ earned. The 5.7/1 Maggiore (7f Googoo Gaagaa) was next for Matthieu Abrivard and trainer Loris Ferro. The 4.8/1 Cala Mayor (7f Muscle Hill) was third for reinsman Nicolas Ensch and conditioner Pierre Vercruysse,

Happyjo de Ligny (7m Brillantissime-Bella Flore-Sam Bourbon), off as the 1.1/1 odds favorite, took the Prix de Malmoe (purse 38,000€, 2150 meters autostart, 11 starters ages 7-11) clocked in 1.12.1kr over the fast Cagnes surface. Matthieu Abrivard teamed the Yannick Henry trainee for Ecurie Smart as Happyjo won for the 10^th time in his 43-race career now for 233,785€ earned.

Floreal (9g Up And Quick-Vagaova) held on along the pegs to win the Prix de Rome Tor di Valle (purse pegs to win the Prix de Rome Tor di Valle (purse 49,000€, 2925 meters volt start, 15 European starters ages 8-11) clocked in 1.13.0kr. Off at 4.6/1 odds the winner was handled by Romain Bouvier, also his trainer, for owner Charles Bouvier. Floreal now has 16 career wins in 80 starts for 360,180€ earned. Second at 12/1 was rallying Gimy du Pommereux (8m Coktail Jet) with J.Ch. Feron at the lines for trainer David Cinier for owner Gilles L’Herpiniere.

Finally, the Prix de Cabourg (purse 52,000€, 2925 meters volt start, 1o starters all four-year-olds) went to 1.12.7kr timed and 9/1 odds King Of Cash (4m Ready Cash-Euforiawicz) that won impressively. Christophe Martens teamed this Loris Garcia trainee for Ecurie du Vieux Chene. The King now has four career wins in 17 starts for 68,490€€ earned. He defeated 13/1 Kaira du Damier (4f Uriel Speed) driven by David Bekaert,

It was quite a day at Cagnes sur Mer as fans and horse people throughout Europe, and beyond, continued to celebrate Vernissage Grif.

Cagnes sur Mer, Trotteur Francais, Province-Courses files/photos-harness trots

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink