Melba du Gers takes Gr. II Prix Gelinotte

On this Calvador-Cornulier Q3 Sunday there were a host of other groupe and fast-class harness racing events that we covered below.

In the days’ co-featured  Prix Gelinotte (Gr. II International, 120,000€ purse, 2175 meters, 15 starters three year old fillies) the 4.1/1 odds second choice Melba du Gers (3f Prodigious-Chiloe-Coktail Jet) was up  in the final strides to prevail timed in 1.15.0kr.

Jean Michel Bazire was aboard this Nicolas Bazire trainee that J.P. Bragato owns and Marie Brigitte Anty bred. Melba won for the third time in her eight race career so far and she advanced her earnings to 109,755€.

Magic America (3f Love You-Tootsie Smiling-Goetmals Wood), the half-sister to 715,550€ winning Green Grass, was second as the 9/10 odds favorite that Eric Raffin teamed for trainer Sebastien Guarato and owner J.P. Micholet.

Misty Green (3f Love You-Greenpeace-Memphis du Rib) was third at 15/1 odds with trainer William Bigeon at the lines for owner Joel Seche. Following these top three were 32/1 Morality (3f Rocklyn), 22/1 Geiles Leben Home (3f Maharajah) that Holger Ehlert trains, 95/1 Melody Cool (3f Ready Cash) and 7.2/1 odds Masina de Tillard (3f Face Time Bourbon).

To view the race replay, click here.

The early part of today’s card also included the Prix d’Enghien (monte Gr. III, purse 90,000€, 2700 meters, 11 European starters four year olds) where 6/10 odds favorite Lionheart (4m Falcao de Laurma-Decadence-Invar) scored by three lengths timed in 1.13.9kr with Eric Raffin in the irons for trainer Nicolas Bazire and owner Ecurie de Loradeau.

Lionheart now shows eight career wins in 10 starts for 185,330€ earned. The 18/1 Lovissime (4f Love You-Elegantissime) was second with Guillaume Martin aboard the Philippe Allaire trainee that Frederic Sauque owns and bred.

This one is a full-sister to 222,150€ earning Kaviarissime. Home third was 10/1 Lisbonne Dry (4f Singalo-Delicatessen-The Best Madrik) ridden by Paul Philippe Ploquin for Ecurie Dry and trainer Patrick Ploquin.

Following these trotteurs were 3.5/1 Little Orelie (4f Feeling Cash) and 23/1 odds Long Island (4f Prodigious-Bahama Island-Love You).

To view the race replay, click here.

Older classmasters battled in the Prix de Lille (purse 90,000€, 2100 meters autostart, 15 European starters ages 6-11) with 2.5/1 odds Jack Tonic (6m Charly du Noyer-Class de Touchyvon) victorious timed in 1.11.8kr with Theo Duvaldestin driving.

This Thierry Duvaldestin trainee now has nine career wins in 34 starts for 448,950€. Haras des Quatre Vents owns this winner that defeated the 14/1 Indy Rock (7g Readly Express-L Dees Rocky) that Paul Philippe Ploquin reined for Stall Verrazzano AB and trainer Daniel Reden. Greco Bello (9g Un Mec d’Heripre) was third at 7.1/1 odds for Yoann Lebourgeois driving for owner/trainer J.P. Marmion. Horchestro (8g Sam Bourbon) at 5.1/1 and 6/1 Hedic Gema (8g Akim du Cap Vert) completed the top five finishers.

To view the race replay, click here.

Paris-Vincennes. Trotteur Francais files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink