January 4, 2016 – Sweden’s Super Ariel (7f Super Arnie-Oriiea Lep) took today’s harness racing Quinte+ (jackpot €2.7 million) Prix de Charleville at Paris-Vincennes (purse €50,000, 2100 meters autostart, 15 European female starters) timed in 1.13kr for driver Franck Nivard. This 3.2/1 odds winner is owned by Stall Torpet HB and trained by K. Haggstrom. Second was 16.9/1 Pancottina Bar (7f Varenne-Valuta Lavec) for Alexandre Abrivard, trainer Catello Savarese and Italy’s Scuderia Stella SRL. 4.4/1 Peace Of Mind (7f Uronometro-Erica d’Alfa), from Italy, landed third for Roberto Andreghetti and trainer Fabrice Souloy ahead of 24/1 Volcania de Dypp (7f Prodigious-Hesta Express) for Gabriel Gelormini and 54/1 Venus Haufor (7f Nice Love-Newly Haufor) for Ch-J Bigeon.
On today’s undercard Cooper (4g Official Secret-Kerlude de Retz) took the Prix Pavilly (purse €60,000, 2175 meters, nine monte starters) timed in 1.14.4kr for Yoann Lebourgeois and trainer Tony Le Beller. 20/1 Caid de Bengale (4g Loulou Jet-Tierce de Bangale) for Eric Raffin and trainer Gilles Curens was a close second ahead of 4.2/1 Castel Black (4m Ludo de Castelle-Princesse Black) hanlded by Bruno Chanonat for trainer/owner Jean-Paul Piton.
The 1.14.6kr winner of the Prix de Nort Sur Erdre (purse €80,000, 2700 meters, 12 starters) was 1.9/1 Amour Fou (6g Meaulnes du Corta-Nice Star) for Franck Nivard, trainer Thierry Raffegeau and owner J-Y Roze. 2.8/1 odds Asis Bot Eur Moel (6g Pagalor-Cora du Niel) was second for Guillaume Martin and trainer Arnaud Desmottes with third to 4.4/1 Andalouse (6f Tenor de Baune-Mosaique) handled by Anthony Barrier for owner/trainer Flavien Provost.
The newly turned three year-olds competed in Toulouse Le Cepiere’s Prix de Mauriac (A) for a €16,000 purse over the 2150 meter autostart course. 15 starters battled with the rallying 5.8/1 Darwin (3m Timoko-Samantha Bleue) taking victory for Robert Lacroix. Richard Westerink is the trainer (also of Timoko) for Comte P de Montesson with the 1.19.9kr winner finishing ahead of 6.8/1 Divine Winning (3f Jam Pridem-Sandia du Coglais) for owner/trainer/driver Norbert Vimond and third finishing 27/1 Desiree Idef (3f In Love With You-Rhea de Feline) for owner/trainer/driver Jerome Paille.
Thomas H. Hicks