King Cole scores at Cagnes sur Mer

Reinsman Christophe Martens bagged a triple at Cagnes sur Mer this day (Aug. 15) led by King Cole’s harness racing victory in the Gr. III Grand Prix de la Ville de Nice (purse 69,000€, 2925 meters, 13 European starters ages 7-11).

Off as the 4//10 odds favorite King Cole (7g Maharajah-Striking Pine) was an impressive front-end winner timed in 1.12.7kr for his seventh career victory in France from 17 starts and 275,608€ earned. He has won three of his last four and four of the last six. Vincent Martens trains this winner for Jussi Hietalathi.

Give Me (8g Love You) was second at 59/1 for Steve Stefano driving for J.M. Roubaud and owner/breeder Severine Raimond. Third was 7.8/1 Goatcho Jiel (8g Prince Gede) with Romauld Mourice the trainer/driver. Domino Dream (11g Blue Dream) and Fakir de Mahey (9m Reve de Beylev) completed the top five.

To watch the race replay, click here.

Driver Martens also scored in the second race with 1.6/1 Kalmia Quick (4f Up And Quick) timed in 1.11.8kr and again in the third race with 1.13.9kr timed Jitane Vallee (5f Dollar Macker).

The same day at Grenade sur Garonne on the turf was the Grand Prix Dynavena (Gr. III, purse 51,000€, 2700 meters distance handicap, 12 European starters ages 6-11) with that 1.14.5kr timed victory earned by 5/1 Hidalgo des Noes (7g Opium-Rosina du Pont) driven by Maxime Grasset for conditioner Stephane Provoost and Ecurie Danover.

The winner now has earned 396,060€ in 95 starts with this being his seventh career victory. He was handicapped 25 meters as was second finishing and 4.5/1 odds El Greco Bello (10g Meaulnes du Corta-Olympe d’Or) driven by trainer Pierrick LeMoel. Geronimo Fuego was third at 23/1 with Dione Geray aboard followed by Ideal du Rocher as the 2.4/1 favorite with Louis Piton driving.

To watch the race replay, click here.

On a different note, the 2024 Cornulier winner Esperanza Idole (10f Quido du Goutier-Fan Idole) has been retired. Shown below with owner/trainer Noel Langlois and jockey Jean Yann Ricart, this great monte mare departs with earnings of 853,230€ in 88 starts with 16 victories. She was bred by Serge Laroche from the champion dam and race mare Fan Idole (1993 female by Le Ham-Ton Idole) that won 2,184,369€ from 89 starts and 37 victories.

This reporter will always remember Fan Idole’s great battles with Varenne including her victory in Montreal in Trot Mondial.

On another note, Vivid Wise As has been withdrawn from the Yonkers International, a race he won last year. Capital Mail (by Nad Al Sheba) will replace him representing Italy and Denmark’s Get A Wish (by Wishing Stone) was added to the field.

Trotteur Francais, Cagnes sur Mer files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink