Luciano Menuet wins Gr II Prix Maurice de Gheest

Just named three-year olds were featured in today’s Gr. II International Prix Maurice de Gheest (purse 120,000€, Gr. II International for three-year-olds, 2175 meters voltstart, 10 starters).

The 3,2/1 odds Luciano Menuet (3m Fliciano-Fiore Mika) scored in 1.14.6kr with Alexandre Abrivard teaming the Philippe Allaire trainee.

Ecurie  des Charmes owns the four time winner in seven starts for 125,256€, that was bred by Michel Menuet. Lash Perrine (3m Django Riff-Unabella Perrine) rallied for second at 29/1 odds for driver Franck Nivard for owner/breeder J.F. Mary and trainer Tomas Malmqvist. Lemon Tree (3m Face Time Bourbon-Divine Jet-Goetmals Wood) was third at 2.9/1 with Benjamin Rochard driving the Leo Bigeon trainee for Joel Seche. Felipe Roc (3m Filipp Roc-Shimpony Roc) landed fourth at 6.8/1 with Santo Mollo driving the Filippo Rocca trainee for SS Eusebio SNC. The 2,4/1 odds favorite Little Brown finished eighth.

For the race replay, click here.

In the secondary featured Prix Leon Tacquet (Gr. III International monte, purse 80,000€, 2700 meters for nine starters ages 5-6 years old) the 8/10 favorite Jazz In Montreux (5g Akim du Cap Vert-Urhanza) scored for jockey Nathalie Henry, trainer Louis Baudron and Ecurie la Pinsonniere. Race time was 1.13.4kr for the winner of 256,700€. The winner now has nine wins in 25 starts. The 81/1 outsider Inous Danica (6m Boccador de Simm) was second with Thibaut Dromigny in the irons for trainer Antoine de Vaugiraud. Third was 9/1 Jupiter de Play (5g Dragon du Fresne) with Alexandre Abrivard the winning jockey for trainer Leo Abrivard and Jacques Cottel.

Earlier on the program the Prix de Sully (purse 68,000€, 2175 meters for 12 European 7–11-year-olds) went to 15/1 Gain Ultime (8g Booster Winner-Vista Winner-Ganymede) handled by Mathieu Mottier for trainer Pierre Louis Desaunette. This one secured his 11^th career victory in 49 starts for earnings of 252,470€. Race time was 1.11.5kr. In the Prix de Vic Sur Cere (purse 71,000€, 2850 meters for European 6–11-year-olds) the 1.5/1 odds favorite Indigo de Fontaine (6g Niky-Soline de Fontaine) scored in 1.13.5kr with Alexandre Abrivard aboard for trainer L.Cl. Abrivard and owner Jean Pierre Barjon. The stallion Niky (by Vikings Way and a winner of 871,540€) has been a good sire of sulky and monte performers. The son of Niky, Bilibili, bred by Barjon, earned 1,895,100€ and he won the Cornulier twice plus the Lile-de France and the Prix du Calvados.  Finishing second today was 13/1 Ibiseus Man (8g Booster Winner) for trainer/driver Romain Charles Larue with 49/1 Ipalio (6m Django Riff) third with P. Y. Verva at the lines.

Yesterday at Cabourg the promising young reinsman Benjamin Rochard won the first four contests with Lucky Piya (1.16.6kr), Kousue Carisaie (1.13.9kr), Konan Jersey (1.15.1kr) and Jeep de Daline (1.14.4kr),

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink