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The 6.5/1 odds and 25-meter handicapped Grace du Digeon (8f Seduisant Fouteau-Greolie de Laigne-Tenor de Baune) won today’s (April 3) Gr. III International Grand Prix Angers/Loire Metropole (purse 64,000€, 3100 meters distance handicap, 15 starters ages 6-11) at Angers, in France.
She was clocked in 1.16.2kr with Eric Raffin driving for owner/trainer Charles Dreux as Grace du Digeon won for the 20th time in 61 starts for earnings of 508,590€. Horace du Goutier (7m Ready Cash-Uniflore Daidou-Coktail Jet) ended second at 4.1/1 odds. This 25 meter handicapped trotteur was reined by Hughes Monthule for Ecurie Saint Martin and trainer Sebastien Guarato.
Heradames (7m Quaker Jet-Badames-Ready Cash) was third at 7/1 with David Thomain aboard for Ecurie J-P Barjon and trainer Charly Thomain. Gybor Well (8g Un Mec d’Heripre) at 38/1; Gloire de Perche at 136/1 and even-money Instrinct d’Am (6m Bold Eagle) completed the top six. Earl Simon was a non-starter and Hirondelle du Rib and Farrell Seven were miscue dq’s. Ina du Rib and Ganay de Banville raced unplaced.
To watch the race replay, click here.
On the undercard was the Prix Gelinotte (purse 20,000€, 2350 meters autostart, 13 starters four years old) and the well-bred 1.7/1 odds Kika Josselyn (4g Prodigious-Uka Josselyn) was victorious with Benjamin Rochard aboard.
J.P. Monclin trains the four-time winner in eight starts for Scuderia Twister. She has earned 31,605€ and the Yvan Bernard bred mare has a future. Kaline du Rib (4f Rancho Gede-Passion du Rib) earned second at 14/1 odds with J.L. Cl. Dersoir driving for Ecurie Rib and trainer Joel Hallais.
Fast class performers in France are next up April 6 at Vincennes. Hooker Berry from stable JMB heads the lineup.
So far in 2024 through March 31 Ready Cash leads the stallions in earnings for all ages and three-year olds. Face Time Bourbon ranks second so far in the three-year old category. Bird Parker ranks second in the all ages classification. Louis Baudron’s veteran stallion Village Mystic makes the top 10 in each category.
Trotteur Francais, Angers Hippodrome, Province Courses files/photos-harness trots
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink
