Joumba de Guez dominates in Prix de Paris

Joumba de Guez (6f Carat Williams-Quomba de Guez) dominated today’s Prix de Paris – The Marathon Amerique Race (Gr. I International, purse 400,000€, 4150 meters, 14 starters ages 4-11) in dominating fashion at Paris-Vincennes, much of her journey on the harness racing front end.

Jean Michel Bazire teamed the Nicolas Bazire trainee perfectly for breeder/owner Ecurie Vautors (Rene Guezille) to her 11th career victory in 34 starts advancing her career earnings to 922,160€. Off at 5,8/1 odds the winner fought off challenges from Josh Power and Iroise de la Noe before holding 5.3/1 Hussard du Landret (8m Bird Parker-Anakine du Bellay)  with Yoann Lebourgeois driving safe by a length on the line. This Benoit Robin owned and trainer bested 57/1 fast closing Fakir de Mahey (10m Reve de Beylev-Mahey Storm) that ended third for trainer/driver Mathieu Mottier. 13/1 odds Inmarosa (7f Amiral Sacha) was fourth with Leo Abrivard aboard followed by 4.3/1 Josh Power (6m Offshore Dream) with trainer Sebastien Ernault up, then 23/1 Ideal Liogneries (7m Repeat Love) and seventh finishing 107/1 Hip Hop Haufor (8m Up And Quick) with Damien Bonne driving. 

JOUMBA DE GUEZ REPLAY

Race time was a quick 1.12.0kr (mile rate 1:55.84) over the extended two and nine-sixteenth miles distance, second only to Hussard du Landret’s 1.11.9kr record established last year. Today’s pace was rated and fast throughout (clocking at 1500 meters to go was 1.12.8kr).

In recent years since 2012 there have been a pair of double winners, Up and Quick and then Belina Josselyn, both of these reined by the champion reinsman Jean Michel Bazire. Again there were no strangers (non FR) at the top of this Triple Crown third event, the last being Ampia Mede SM in 2023, a starter this year finishing unplaced, then Lionel in 2016.

On the undercard the Gr. III Prix de la Mayenne (purse 90,000€, 2700 meters, 13 European starters ages 5-6) went to 3/1 odds Kanto Avis (5m Ready Cash-Ter Avis) timed in 1.11.7kr.

Benjamin Rochard teamed this Marc Sassier trainee for owner/breeder Ecurie DUB’s to victory number six in 31 starts for 336,150€ earned. Jolie Surprise (6f Prodigious) was second at 56/1 odds for owner/trainer/driver Julien Dubois followed by 13/1 Dea Sprint Bar (6d Muscle Hill-Lana del Rio) with Eric Raffin driving for trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro and owner Louis Baudron.

Paris-Vincennes, Trotteur Francais, Equidia files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink