Face Time Bourbon magnificent in 170,000€ Group I test

Face Time Bourbon (6m Ready Cash-Vita Bourbon), off at 3/10 odds, crushed the Gr. I Prix Rene Balliere at Paris-Vincennes (purse 170,000€, 2100 meters autostart, 4-10 year old International starters) with an explosive move exiting the final bend and then drawing clear for a five length score time in 1.09.1kr (mile rate 1:51.18).

Eric Raffin teamed this Sebastien Guarato trainee for Scuderia Bivans Srl as FTB won for the 31st time now for 2,913,940€ earned.

He has made 37 career starts with seven times second. Today, FTB was away mid-pack on the outer behind Davidson du Pont as Express Jet set fast early fractions (1.07kr at 1500 meters to go, 1.07.9kr at the 1000 before Etonnant set the pace to 1.09.1 with 500 meters to go). With about 1100 to go Davidson du Pont went offstride and then three wide Etonnant surged to the front awaiting FTB’s burst. 41/1 Detroit Castelets (8m Neoh Jiel) rallied late for second for David Thomain and trainer J.L. Dersoir timed in 1.09.6kr.

The 11/1 Violetto Jet (7m From Above) held third for Franck Nivard. 8.9/1 odds Etonnant (7m Timoko) held fourth for Anthony Barrier followed by Go On Boy (5m Password) for trainer/driver Romain Derieux. Chica de Joudes and Valokaja HIndo captured the sixth and seventh checks. The race capped off today’s Journee des Champions that was quite an event.

Face Time Bourbon lowered his personal best from 1.09.4kr in this his first start since March 6th when he won the Prix de Selection with Eric Raffin up for the first time. FTB had a busy breeding season as he reportedly bred 100 mares in France and another 70 elsewhere. He is an exceptional horse.

To view a race replay, click here.

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink