Ibiki de Houelle, Esperanza Idole win Vincennes features

Vincennes put forth a fine racing card this day starting with the Prix de Bar le Duc (purse 90,000€, 2850 meters, 14 European 5–10-year-olds). Here the 8/10 odds favorite Ibiki de Houelle (5m Love You-Sawasde de Houelle-Gazouillis) scored easily in 1.13.1kr for driver Eric Raffin and trainer/breeder Franck Leblanc.

Daniel Aupereau owns the nine-time winner in 30 career starts for earnings of 323,360€. He defeated a group of possible Amerique players including second finishing 8.7/1 Eric The Eel (7m Muscle Hill-Laurel America-Varenne-Armbro Voice) reined by Eric Raffin for trainer Tomas Malmqvist and Stall Panamera Racing. The dam is a full-sister to Lisa America. Third was 11/1 Happy Valley (6f Royal Dream-Mysterious Valley) driven by her breeder Jean Philippe Dubois for his Ecurie Victoria Dreams and trainer Philippe Moulin. Floreal (9g Up And Quick) was fourth at 21/1 odds and Hip Hop Haufor (6m Up And Quick) was fifth at 5.6/1. Iceland Falls, Ina du Rib and Kennedy were in the beaten field.

Replay: https://www.letrot.com/courses/2023-12-30/7500/3

In the co-featured Prix Yvonnick Bodin (monte, Gr. III purse 90,000€, 13 starters ages 6-10 years) the 7.5/1 odds Esperanza Idole (9f Quido du Goutier-Fan Idole-Le Ham) was up in the final jump to win timed in 1.12.0kr.

Marius Durville was in the irons for trainer/owner Noel Langlois as Idole won for the 15^th time in 86 career starts now for life earnings of 538,230€. She is a daughter of Fan Idole, 1.09.8kr and 2,184,318€, the Richard Willliam Denechere trained/reined champion. Finishing second today in a photo was 17/1 Filou d’Anjou (8g Othello Bourbon) with Marine Beudard the jockey for owner/trainer Eric Beaudard. Third home was the 6/10 favorite Granit Meslois (7g Shadow-O’dyssee) handled by jockey Tom Vlaemynck Debost for owner/trainer Pierre Belloche.

Replay: https://www.letrot.com/courses/2023-12-30/7500/6

Earlier in the program Karambar (3g Dollar Macker-Badames-Ready Cash) won the Prix du Mele Sur Sarthe (purse 40,000€, 2100 meters autostart, 16 three-year old starters) at 2.1/1 odds and timed in 1.13.3kr.

Alexandre Abrivard was the winning pilot for L.C. Abrivard and breeder/owner Jean Pierre Barjon. Barjon was just named President of Societe du Trotteur Francois for the 2024-27 term. Barjon has been an important owner/breeder with Bilibili and Meaulnes du Corta among his credits in France.

On today’s card the 8/1 Jack Is Haufor (4g Booster Winner-Ustie Haufor-Niky) scored in 1.12.8kr in the Prix de Brives la Gaillarde (purse 35,000€, 2100 meters autostart, 12 four-year old starters). David Thomain teamed the winner for breeder/owner/trainer Christian Bigeon. Jack has four career wins for earnings of 47,790€.

Back to Sunday’s Gr. II Prix de Bourgogne the veteran Moni Viking is now a scratch. The 10 year old son of Maharajah has earned 1.110.315€ with a speed mark of 1.09.6kr for owner Jan Lyng.

LeTrot, Paris-Vincennes files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink