Graal du Tresor scores in 90,000€ Grand National du Trot

Today (April 10) at Lyon A La Soie in France it was the third leg of the Gr. III Grand National du Trot (purse 90,000€, 3250 meters distance handicap, 16 starters ages 5-10 years). The 11/1 odds Graal du Tresor (8g Ludo de Castelle-Melodie du Tresor) scored in 1.14.3kr for trainer/driver Mathieu Mottier.

He now has 11 career wins in 40 starts for 317,770€ earned for owner Caroline Beileard Mottier. Laurence Beileard bred the front stepping winner that defeated 2.8/1 odds favorite Hymne du Gers (7g Bold Eagle-Unanime Quality-Offshore Dream) with Nicolas Bazire up for Ecurie J.M. Rancoule and trainer Jean Michel Bazire. Third was 25-meter handicapped and 5.2/1 odds Horchestro (7g Sam Bourbon-Alisma du Corta) reined by David Bekaert for G.R. Huguet.

The 16/1 Faredigio (9g Perlando-Roxame Menuet-Cezio Josselyn) was fourth for owner/trainer/driver William Bigeon finished ahead of  4.7/1 odds Harry Carisaie (7g Viking de Val-Notre Carsaie-Cezio Josselyn) driven by Benjamin Rochard. Note: Cezio Josselyn (1990 male, Armbro Goal-Quezira) was a winner of 392,709€ and was the sire of classic winning mare Olga de Biwetz that won 2,208,795€ during her exemplary racing career. Armbro Goal (Speedy Crown-Armbro Flight) was a US Hambletonian winner for Jan Johnson/Berndt Lindstedt.

To watch the race replay, click here.

Yesterday at Reims was the Grand Prix des Vignerens (purse 30,000€, 2550 meters, 14 starters ages 7-11) and the 1.12.6kr timed winner was 27/1 odds Galinette Bleue (8f Very Nice Marceaux-Nuit Irisee-Duc de Jiel) reined by Bryan Coppens for trainer Reynald Coppens. Linda Vercuysse owns the now 13-time winner for 144,070€.

Linda, a former New Yorker, has superb American colors that I have admired for years with her trotreurs. This day the winner was up in the final stride to defeat 2.6/1 Hacienda (7f Booster Winner) handed by Benjamin Rochard and 7.1/1 Helena Girl (7f Vigove) with Damien Bonne at the lines.

On the same card the 7/10 odds favorite Larenze du Gers (3f Royal Dream-Bienvenue du Gers-Quinoa du Gers) scored for trainer/driver Matthieu Abrivard for Ecurie J.P. Bragato. Marie Brigette Anty bred this winner that is unbeaten in two starts with this 1.17.7 timed victory in the 21,000€ purse Prix de la Cuverie raced over 2550 meters by three-year-olds.

In other news Daneo Degli Dei (5m Mago d’Amore-Orleans OM-SJs Caviar) was invited to the Finlandia AJO at Vermo. This Adrian Kolgjini trainee for Alessandro Gocciadoro joins previously invited Hail Mary, Stoletheshow, Vivid Wise As, Global Withdrawl, Staro Mack Crowe, and Betting Power.

Hippodrome Reims, Lyon A La Soie, Finlandia Ajo, LeTrot files/photos-harness trots

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink