More stakes action from Paris-Vincennes

January 16, 2015 – Django Riff (3m Ready Cash-Rasta Perrine) easily captured today’s Gr.II Prix Maurice de Gheest (purse €120,000, 2700 meters, 12 starters) timed in 1.15.9kr at 9/10 odds for driver Yoann Lebourgeois. The Philippe Allaire trainee is owned by Elisabeth Allaire and he recorded his fifth win in the last eight appearances.

Another Allaire stable stalwart Dollar Macker (3m Saxo de Vandel-Salt Lake City) was a solid second at 3/1 for J-Ph Monclin for owner Olivier Henri Thomas. 20.1/1 Ducato Bourbon (3m Love You-Kamera Bourbon) was a fast closing third for Franck Nivard, trainer Franck Leblanc and owner Ecurie Siray. Dam of the winner Rasta Perrine (Look de Star-Java Perrine-Reve d’Udon) was a winner of US$119,759.

The dam’s of the second and third finishers are also productive. Salt Lake City is a daughter of Insert Gede-La Star-Defi d’Aunou and that family produced US$871,000 winner Bahama and two other US$100,000 winners plus Intensite the dam of Intense America. Bahama is the dam of four US$100,000 plus winners. Kamera Bourbon )Cezio Joisselyn-Etta Extra-Florestan) was a winner of US$220,543 and dam of Scala Bourbon US$626,258. Her dam Etta Extra produced Mara Bourbon US$1,864,802, Qualita Bourbon US$1,703,512) and the young stallion Sam Bourbon US$473,051.

On the afternoon card was the Prix de Mauquenchy (purse €90,000, 2175 meters, 11 European starters) and the 1.11.8kr timed winner was 3/2 favorite Boss du Meleuc (5g Lucky Blue-Rafale du Meleuc) with Eric Raffin aborad for owner/trainer Yannick-Alain Briand. The winner recorded his sixth victory in the last nine outings, all the wins in monte races. 8.7/1 Saphire Bi (5f Conway Hall-Valley  Jean Bi-Valley Boss Bi) took second for David Thomain, trainer Sebastien Guarato and Scuderia Della Casa if Italy. 40/1 Shiraz Roc (5m Gigant Neo-Bufera Roc) was third for Alexandre Abrivardf for trainer Mathieu Abrivard and Italy’s Scuderia Sant Eusebio.

This day’s Quinte+ was the Gr. III Prix du Forez (purse €105,000, 2700 meters, 15 starters) with victory earned by the 0.5/1 favorite Viking Blue (7g Prodigious-Idole Blue-Jet du Vivier) handled by Dominik Locqueneux for owner/trainer Yannick-Alain Briand. The pacesetting victory was timed in 1.12.7kr by Viking Blue that now has posted ten straight wins and career earnings of €360,708. 24/1 Tagada Tagada (9f Meaulnes du Corta-Lambada Blue) was a fast closing second for Mathieu Abrivard with 30/1 Tabriz du Gite (9m Ganymede-Kabrizia du Gite) third for David Thomain. 45/1 Union du Rib and 9/1 Teatro were next to the line.

The Gr. II Prix de Croix (purse €120,000, 2850 meters, 12 starters) went to 16.4/1 Belina Josselyn (5f Love You-Lezira Josselyn-Workaholic) and trainer/driver J-M Bazire for owner Yvan Bernard. 10.3/1 Bolero Love (5m Love You-Orelady-And Arifant) was second for Gabriel Gelormini, trainer Sebastian Guarato and owner Antonio De Sousa. Conlight As (5m Conway Hall-Delight As-Striking Sahbra) ended third for Christophe Martens with favorite Briac Dark fourth and Black d’Avril fifth.

Thomas H. Hicks