Oracle Tile claims victory in 150,000€ Gr. II Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere

Oracle Tile (7m Ready Cash-Exotic Sund) swept past tiring leaders to win today’s Gr. II Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Enghien-Soisy (purse 150,000€, 2875 meters voltstart, European 4-10 year olds).

Off at 3.9/1 this Theo Duvaldestin reined trotteur won for the sixth time in 11 starts in FR for trainer Thierry Duvaldestin (he the Ready Cash trainer during his aged trotting campaigns) and owner Stall Ready to Win. The 1.12.3kr clocked victory advanced Oracle Tile’s career earnings to 510,847€.

The 32/1 odds Elvis du Vallon (9m Reve de Beylev-Premiere de Beylev) rallied for second with Yoann Lebourgeois driving for trainer Charles Cuiller. The battling pair of 5.4/1 odds Elie de Beaufour (9g Royal Dream-Pignata) and the 5/10 favorite Etonnant (9m Timoko-Migraine) were third and fourth after staging a death struggle that began after the halfway point.

Etonnant had taken the front after getting away fifth and advancing in a pedestrian pace for Anthony Barrier and owner/trainer Richard Westerink. Soon thereafter Jean-Michel Bazire approached first up with his trainee Elie de Beaufour. Etonnant would not yield and the pair battled side by side into the stretch where Elie inched ahead and the pair were run down by Oracle Tile and Elvis du Vallon. Echo de Chanlecy (9g Quinoa du Gers-Noina d’Urzy) at 12/1 raced evenly for fifth money with Tony LeBeller at the lines. The 11/1 Eric The Eel was one of three horses dq’d for miscues.

Today’s Gr. II test illustrates that age, distance and trip type can be detrimental to aging champions. Etonnant is set for the upcoming Yonkers Interational over 2011 meters, where we will face a half mile track, travel and foes like Vivid Wise As and Jiggy Jog. Last year Etonnant made a miscue on the tight YR turns. Vivid Wise As faces the age challenge as well, both he and Etonnant are nine, albeit he comes in from a solid closing effort while second in his last start.

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink