Goetmals Wood three-year-old wins Monte

August 19, 2015 – The featured Gr. II Prix Pierre Gamare for monte performers (purse €120,000, 2700 meters, 7 starters) went to favorite 7/10 odds Che Jenilou (3m Goetmals Wood-Pirogue Jenilou) with Eric Raffin aboard for owner Antonio De Sousa and trainer Sebastien Guarato. The 1.17.6kr winner, by five open lengths, rallied late for the win and then held off 12/1 Caennaise (3f Memphis du Rib-Opaline Blanche) ridden by Camille Levesque for trainer Benoit Barassin, with third to 11.7/1 Cadeau de Noel (3m Corot-Nuit de Noel) with Philippe Masschaele up for owner/trainer Pascal Daulier.

The Prix de Beaune (purse €65,000, 2700 meters, 18 European starters) was today’s secondary feature, the Quinte+ with a €2.4 million jackpot, contested under sunny skies at Paris-Vincennes with the win going to 7.6/1 odds Un Charme Fou (7m Love You-Ma Crown) with Franck Nivard up. Franck Leblanc trains this one for owner Claude Guedy clocked in 1.14.4kr. Ecurie D bred the winner that earned victory 14, now for career earnings in excess of €350,000. 43/1 Umberto de Nacre (7g Korean-Ivana d’Arc) was second for trainer/driver Didier Dauverne with 18/1 odds Totem d’Azur home third for owner/trainer/driver Herve Soinneau.

The monte Prix d’Epernay (€55,000 purse, 2700 meters, 12 starters) went to 5/2 odds Tess de Villeneuve (8f Goetmals Wood-Joie de Villeneuve) handled by Yoann Lebourgeois clocked in 1.13.7kr. The trainer of the winner is Mme. Severine Raimond. 12/1 Vermeer Jarzeen (6g Oh James-Perle Jarzeene) landed a distant second for Eric Raffin ahead of 38/1 Temia Cayennaise (8f Kepler-Fauvette de Bodean) with Mme. Emilie Le Beller in the irons.

Pioneer Gar (6m Varenne-Follia) scored in the Prix des Noailles (purse €46,000, 2700 meters, 16 European contestants) by three-lengths timed in 1.13.8kr. The 3.1/1 winner was teamed by Eric Raffin for trainer Johanna Lindqvist and is owned by Italy’s Scuderia Super Chico SAS. 2.4/1 favorite from Sweden, Tell Me No Lies (6g Offshore Dream-B.Glorious) was second for trainer/driver J-M Bazire and trainer Fabrice Souloy. Third went to Italy’s 4/1 Paparazzi  (6g Infinitif-Emily di Jesolo) trained by Lutfi Kolgjini and reined by Dominik Locqueneux.

The Prix du Perigord for five year-olds (purse €60,000, 2700 meters, 18 European starters) was won by 20/1 Alexia (5f Prodigious-Ilexia) with Eric Raffin at the lines for trainer Philippe Moulin and Ecurie Victoria Dreams. Alexia scored in 1.14.3kr by three lengths defeating 9/1 pacesetter Bearhawaii (5g Offshore Dream-Honalulu Lulu) for trainer/driver Christophe Martens. 9/1 odds Amie d’Andy (5f Coktail Jet-Nanyotiere) was third for trainer/driver P-Y Verva.

Today’s Prix d’Antibes for three year-olds (purse €52,000, 2700 meters, 9 starters) went to favorite 9/10 odds Chicago Blues (3m Prodigious-New Orleans) trained by Thierry Duvaldestin and driver Franck Nivard. This colt scored in 1.15.4kr to defeat 9.5/1 Coup Droit (3m Prodigious-Saint Leonard) driven by Robin Bakker for trainer Paul Hagoort. Third went to 11/1 Capone Face (3m Ready Cash-Kingly Pride) with Pierre Vercruysse up for trainer Franck Leblanc and owner Antonio De Sousa.

Thomas H. Hicks