The Prix de Chateau Chinon (Gr. III, 90,000€ purse, 2700 meters, 10 European three year old starters) produced a wild finish today at Vincennes with victory to 2.6/1 odds Lemon Tree (3m Face Time Bourbon-Divine Jet-Goetmals Wood) with Benjamin Rochard driving for trainer William Bigeon and owner Joel Seche.
The Ecurie Hunter Valley bred colt now sports four career wins in 15 starts for 195,640€ earned. Race time was 1.12.8kr and the top four finishers were clocked in the same time.
Finishing second was 16/1 Learn To Fly (3m Uriel Speed-Santana Girl) that Frederic Senet trains for breeder/owner Michele Stihl and Eric Raffin was the pilot. Light My Fire (3m Ready Cash-Reethi Rah Jet-Love You-Hippodaamia), the brother to 5,124,087€ winning Bold Eagle, was third at 3.3/1 odds with Mathieu Mottier at the lines for breeder/owner Ecurie Hunter Valley and trainer Sebastien Guarato. Looping Day (3m Face Time Bourbon-Daytona Jet-Goetmals Wood) was fourth at 15/1 with Yoann Lebourgeois driving the Guarato trainee for owner Michael Cohan. L’As Desbois (3m Booster Winner-Doria Desbois) was fifth at 6.8/1 for Alexandre Abrivard driving for trainer William Bigeon and owner Joel Seche. The 2.1/1 favorite Lapis Lazuli (3m Ready Cash-Early Star) sixth for driver Jean Michel Bazire.
For the race replay, click here.
On the undercard today nine two year old fillies contested the Prix de Chatellerault (purse 51,000€, 2850 meters, nine two year old fillies at the start). The 1.1/1 odds favorite Melba du Gers (2f Prodigious-Chiloe) scored timed in 1.17.7kr for driver/trainer Nicolas Bazire and owner J.P. Bragato. This was the chestnut filliy’s second career victory in seven starts for 55,755€ earned.
Muscade Leman (2f For You Madrik-Cerise Leman) was second for driver/trainer/owner Benoit Robin. Third was 38/1Mamma Mia (2f Follow You-Orangette) with Gabriele Gelormini driving for trainer/owner Louis Baudron. The 2.4/1 second choice Mille Etoiles went offstride nearing the line and was a dq with Jean Michel Bazire aboard.
For the race replay, click here.
Yesterday the Christmas Eve program at Vincennes also had a two year old contest, this one for the colts in the Prix des Eglantiers (purse 51,000€, 2850 meters, 13 two year old colts). The 4.9/1 odds Maitre Jacques (2m Rolling d’Heripre-Adelie-Ganymede) scored timed in 1.14.5kr for his third victory in four starts now for 46,570€ earned.
Jacques Cottel bred and owns the winner that L.C. Abrivard trains and Alexandre Abrivard drove. Manaslu (2m Love You-Caranca-Ready Cash) was the 1.6/1 odds favorite and he was second for Yoann Lebourgeois driving for trainer/owner Philippe Allaire. J.F. Guay bred this half brother of 2,527,145€ earning Hohneck, he by Royal Dream. Third was 5.3/1 Memphis de Brasse (2m Gotland-Europea Madrik-Royal Dream) with Francois Lagadeuc up for Simon Rousselle the owner/trainer, with fourth to 5.2/1 odds Mercator (2m Royal Dream-Erika Dream-Ready Cash) with trainer Mathieu Mottier aboard for owner Karin Walter-Mommert.
For the race replay, click here.
The top purse event on Christmas Eve was the Prix de Craon (purse 68,000€, 2700 meters, 14 European starters ages 6-10) and the 1.12.1kr timed winner was 5.4/1 Isofou du Chene (6g Un Charme Fro-Alisa du Chane) reined by Paul Philippe Ploquin for trainer Julian Le Mer and breeder/owner Yvonne Guedj. He recorded victory number nine in 35 career starts good for 264,720€ earned.
The 8/10 odds favorite Cobra Killer Gar (6g Readly Express-Lady Killer Gar) held second for driver Gabriele Gelormini, trainer H.E. Bondo and owner Inclinix di Diego Romeo. Indy de Jyr (6g Theo Josselyn) was fourth for Benjamin Rochard at 8.7/1 odds.
For the race replay, click here.
Trotteur Francais, Paris-Vincennes files/photos
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink