€122,000 Prix Saint Michel at Mikkeli, Finland

July 16, 2017 – Today’s €122,000 purse Prix Saint Michel (1609 meters autostart, eight starters, one scratch) went to 12/1 Midnight Hour (6g Diesel Don-Quanna Kemp-Express Ride) driven by Likka Nurmonen for trainer Ossi Nurmonen.

The winner took his 27th victory in 65 career starts and his earnings now exceed 1.5 million krowns.

Race time was 1.10.6kr. 7.5/1 Workout Wonder (5m Conway Hall-Dear Abs-Muscles Yankee) was second for Tommi Kylliaianen and trainer Jarno Kauhanen. 14/1 Jonesy (7m Muscles Yankee-Ripley-Ride The Night) was third for trainer/driver Tuomas Korvenoja. 9/10 favorite In Vain Sun finished fourth and 9/1 Madrid (by Credit Winner) was fifth,

At Mont Saint Michel, FR, was held the Prix de la Federation Regionale (purse €35,000, 2675 meters, 15 starters) with that victory earned by the 1.15.5kr timed and 2.3/1 favorite Boccaccio (6m Carpe Diem-Haria des Champs) with Franck Nivard the trainer/driver for owner Juri Svoboda. 9/2 Viking Fromento (8g Capriccio-Orminda) was second for Pierre Levesque.

On the turf at St. Jean de Monts was the Prix Coved (purse €35,000, 2625 meters, 14 starters) and 5.3/1 Volcan du Garabin (8g Norman Jet-Dalrree Gibus) scored timed in 1.20.5kr for Lorenzo Donati and trainer Roberto Donati for owner Ch. Pousse. Second was 9.4/1 Axe des Champs (7g Qualimo de Vandel-Nony des Picanes) and third was 7/1 Black Atout (6m Prodigious-Lagune) that Franck Leblanc trains.

At Royan la Palmyre the Trophee Vert turf action continued. The Grand Pirx Jean Maurice Beteau (purse €45,000, 3100 meters distance handicap, 18 starters less one judges scratch of a horse that caused three false starts) went to quick timed 1.14.2kr winner and 1.8/1 favorite Baxter du Klau (6g Oiseau de Feux-Imia Josselyn) reined by Jean-Michel Bazire for trainer J.M. Baudouin. This 25 meter penalized performer bested another 25 meter handicapped horse, the  5/1  Bon Copain (6m Love You-Haie) with Eric Raffin up. 105/1 Tresor du Fan (10g Hermes Perrine-Joyuese de Bade) rallied for third handled by Jerome Dubreil. Well-regarded Uniflosa Bella with Antoine Wiels and Amities d’Udon were the next two to the line, with Bingo d’Attache and Tesor Wic ending unplaced.

Other action this day saw Baubir (6g Ganymede-Manzir) win the Aix les Bain featured Grand Prix de Savoie (purse €35,000, 2700 meters, 17 starters) with trainer Mickael Cormy up for Ecurie du Vieux Chene. The winner recorded his 22nd career win now for earnings in excess of €340,000. Acasgu Mag and Unique des Vents were second and third.

At Abbeville the anticipated first start for money occurred for Eagle Eyes (3m First de Retz-Reethi Rah Jet) and the half-brother to Bold Eagle, bred by Jean Etienne Dubois, finished third on the turf over 2300 meters for trainer/driver Sebastien Guarato. The race for a purse of €13,000 was won by Espoir de Taverna (3m Kaisy Dream-Reine de Taveria) with Jerome Compas up for Ecurie Somolli. Second went to El Tigre Segah (3g Kool du Caux-Totute Segah) and breeder/owner/trainer/driver Sebastien Houyvet.

Watch for upcoming action at Cabourg during its festival period next on July 18 and July 21. Be there!

Thomas H. Hicks