Idao de Tillard wins 120,000£ European test at Vincennes

Two high quality groupe level races highlighted the Paris-Vincennes card on Thursday, Nov. 10.

The Gr. Prix Marcel Laurent (purse 120,000£, 2100 meters autostart, European four and five year olds) brought out a great field with the victory earned by 1.7/1 favorite Idao de Tillard (4m Severino-America de Tillard) reined by Theo Duvaldestin. Timed in a quick 1.10.7kr this Thierry Duvaldestin trainee is owned by Cyril Sevestre and the winner recorded his 16^th career victory for 706,130£ earned.

The 12/1 Happy Valley (5f Royal Dream-Mysterious Valley) rallied for second with Jean Philippe Dubois at the lines for his Ecurie Victoria Dreams and trainer Philippe Moulin. Their stablemate, the 19/1 Inoubliable (4f Prodigious-Dream Life), rallied for third handled by Eric Raffin for the Ecurie Victoria Dreams/Mouin/JPhD team. The heavily backed Hohneck weakened to finish fifth at 1.8/1 odds and his stablemate Callmethebreeze ended sixth.

In the Gr. III Prix de Chateau Thierry (purse 66,000£, 2700 meters for European three year olds) the 2/1 odds Gerucault (3m Muscle Hill-Reverie d’Ar) scored in 1.15.3kr for pilot Christophe Martens, trainer Vincent Martens and Ecurie Black and White.

This was his first win in France and his career earnings increased to 85,995£. The 1.9/1 favorite  Jungle Delo (3m Brillantissime-Celebrity Delo) held second for driver Anthony Barrier and trainer J.P. Raffegeau. Third was 21/1 odds Jazzy Dancer (3m Django Riff-Vivolta) also trained by Raffegeau and handled by P.Ph. Ploquin.

LeTrot files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink.com