Emeraude de Bais wins Gr III at Cagnes sur Mer

The Cagnes sur Mer summer harness racing meet is underway in France and today’s (July 10) solid card featured the Gr. III Prix Villes et Metiers d’Arts (purse 69,000€, 2925 meters, 14 International starters). The 9/10 odds favorite Emeraude de Bais (7m Repeat Love-Haute Tension) rallied to win timed in 1.12.7kr for pilot Franck Nivard, trainer Benjamin Goetz and owner Herve Carlus. This was the winner’s 17^th career victory in 91 starts for 583,060€ earned.

Gently de Muse (7m Perlando-Obade Marsellerie) held gamely for second with David Bekaert driving for trainer Jean Michel Bazire and owner Yannick Desmet.  Ecureuil Jenilou (9g Village Mystic-Melodie Jenilou) was third for driver Gwenn Junod for trainer Louis Baudron and owner Nicolas Baudron. Eden Basque (9g Singalo) was fourth at 29/1 for trainer/driver Nicolas Ensch.

At Vichy on July 8 was the start of the Speed Cup Tour 2023. This event has two eliminations and a final, each heat raced over 1609 meters autostart. The Speed Cup Krafft Finale (purse 50,000€, 1609 meters autostart, 10 starters) saw elimination 1 winner Gaz d’Occagnes (7g Titan d’Occagnes-Neminine) win again for Jean Michel Bazire driving for trainer Gilles Curens and Ecurie J, Konjovic.

The winner now has 14 victories in 43 starts for 183,780€ earned and he scored this day in 1.10.8kr (mile rate 1:53.8). He was off as the 8/10 odds favorite to defeat 15/1 Femto de Vauvat (8g Rockfeller Center) reined by Bertrand Ruet for trainer Remi Mounlon thar wide late in the lane. This one was fifth in his elim race. The 90/1 Eden Julry (9g Oiseau de Feux) was third for trainer/driver J.P. Gauvin after being fourth in the seconc elimination.

The first elimination went to 2.3/1 Gaz d’Occagnes for JMB timed in 1.11.3kr. The elims raced for 25,000€ purses over 1609 meters autostart). Girl Petteviniere (7f Booster Winner) was second at 27/1 with Nathan Rousseau up as 1,4/1 favorite Gilmour (7g Tag Wood) was third for driver David Bekaert.

The second elim went to 3.6/1 odds Extra du Chatault (9g Ouaro) timed in 1.11.5kr with trainer Dominik Loqueneux driving. The winner secured his 12^th victory in 79 career appearances. Evil du Lupin (9g Goetmals Wood) was second for Cedric Terry at 3.3/1 and 10/1 Eden Julry was third for J.P, Gauvin.

On July 15 Enghien Soisy will host the Prix de Washington (purse 120,000€, 1609 meters autostart) for which 36 horses have been nominated including Go On Boy, Vivid Wise As, Etonnant, Hohneck and Callmethebreese. This will be a superb race.

Le Trot, Cagnes sur Mer, Vichy files/photos – harness trots

by Thomas H Hicks, for Harnesslink