Gr. II tests in France

The 10th leg of the Gr. III Grand Prix du Trot Paris Turf (purse 75,000€, 2725 meters distance handicap) on September 23 saw the 25 meter handicapped Fakir du Lorault (5m Vaillant Cash-Native du Lorault) score at 10/1 odds timed in 1.13.0kr.

Francois Lecanu teamed this Mickael Charuel trainee to his eighth career win now worth 421,940€ in lifetime earnings. Second beaten a quarter length was the 6/10 favorite Elie de Beaufour (6g Royal Dream-Pignata) reined by Eric Raffin for trainer Jean Michel Bazire. The 52/1 outsider Desir Castelets (7m Quaker Jet-Ophelie Jet) took third money for pilot Gabriele Gelormini.

Fakir du Lorault

On September 22 the Paris-Vincennes card was raced at Laval. The Gr. III Prix Emile Beziere (purse 70,000€, 2850 meters, European) was the featured event and 1.5/1 odds Violetto Jet (6m From Above-Nocciolaia Jet) scored in 1.13.2kr with Franck Nivard up for trainer Philippe Billard.

The winner recorded his ninth win in France now for lifetime earnings of 411,562€. 2.1/1 odds Fairplay d’Urzy (5m Ready Cash-Romane d’Urzy) was second for Eric Raffin and trainer Jean Michel Bazire. 18/1 Sweet Dance (5f Maharajah-Sugar Step) was a good third for Alexis Prat and trainer Anders Lindqvist.

Violetto Jet

In the same card was the monte Prix Enos (purse 50,000€, 2850 meters, European) with victory earned by 3/10 favorite Fakir de l’Ecluse (5g Chef du Chatelet) with Alexandre Abrivard up for trainer/owner L.Cl. Abrivard. Race time was 1.13.3kr as the winner recorded her ninth career win for 181,630€ in lifetime earnings. She also recorded her fifth monte victory in her last six appearances.

The 26/1 Frances Bresil (5f Vaillant Cash) was a close second for jockey Anthony Barrier, with third to 6.3/1 Vincero’ Gar (6g SJs Photo-Lady Killer Gar) with Matthieu Abrivard in the irons for trainer Pietro Gubellini.

Fakir de l’Ecluse

On September 21 at Craon there was a fine card of turf trotting including the Prix Atmos Proprete also named the Prix Une de Mai (LeTrot Open de Regions Anjou-Maine, three year olds, purse 22,000€, 2750 meters). Here, the 50 meter handicapped and 9/1 odds Headline (3f Brillantissime-Mara Bourbon) scored for owner/driver Jean Pierre Dubois and trainer Kevin Vanderschelden. Bred by Ecurie Dream With Me, Headline now has eight wins and two seconds in 15 career starts for 115,740€ earned. JPD recorded his 12th driving win this year in 61 starts.

Hiphip Houra (3m Goetmals Wood), no handicap, was a rallying second for Eric Raffin at 4.7/1 odds. Third was 21/1 Haido des Champs (3m Also des Champs), 25 meter handicapped, with trainer Matthieu Abrivard at the lines. Race time was unreported.

Headline

In the days ahead the races scheduled for Enghien on Friday and Vincennes on Saturday will be raced at Mauquenchy.

LeTrot files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink