Group winners shine in Europe

Veteran classmaster Un Mec d’Heripre (10m Orlando Vici-I Love You Darling) scored in the Grand Prix du Departement des Alpes Maritimes (Gr. II International, purse 180,000 euro, 1609 meters autostart, 10 starters) on this last day of the summer meet at Cagnes sur Mer.

Driver Franck Ohine uvrie launched the winner directly to the lead before entering the first turn and he maintained speed to the 1.10.8kr victory. Un Mec d’Heripre now has 28 wins in 61 starts for 2,004,853 euro earned. The Philippe Billard trainee is owned by Ecurie d’Heripre and was bred by Mlle. Eugenie Quintin.

He was off as the 7/10 favorite. The 3.6/1 odds Dijon (5m Ganymede-Sonate d’Aunou) was second for Romain Derieux and owner Mauricette de Sousa, and raised his bankroll to 614,050 euro. 3.7/1 odds Up And Quick (10m Buvetier d’Aunou-Fichtre), a past Prix d’Amerique winner, was third for driver Franck Nivard, trainer Antoine Dherete and Ecurie Quick Star, the breeder/owner of the career winner of 2,182,970 euro.

The 7.1/1 Billie de Montfort (7f Jasmin de Flore-Quismy de Montfort) rallied off the pegs to be fourth for Gabriele Gelormini, Sebastien Guarato, the trainer, and Philippe Dauphin, breeder/owner of this now 1,711,666 euro earned. Quite a race this was in the mile distance speed series. 

The Vincennes’  monte Groupe II Prix Pierre Gamare (purse 120,000 euro, 2700 meters, 10 starters – three year-olds) went to rallying 5.8/1 Ferreteria (3f Goetmals Wood-Avenue Victoria) with Matthieu Abrivard in the irons for trainer Yves Boireau.

Race time was 1.14.6kr. Jean Pierre Dubois owns the winner that Haras de Villeperce Sarl bred. Ferreteria now has five career wins in 13 starts for 271,140 euro earned. She raced sixth and seventh more most of the journey before staging a steady surge that she sustained to the line.

The 2.3/1 odds Feeling Cash (3m Ready Cash-Royale Star) was second for Yoann Lebourgeois and trainer Philippe Allaire. Third was even money favorite Fadu du Chene (3m Singalo-Star du Chene) for jockey P.Ph. Ploquin, trainer Julien LeMer and breeder/owner Claude Guedj. 

The unbeaten Ferry Jet (3m Uriel Speed-Ulla Jet) took the Prix des Lagny (purse 36,000 euro, 2700 meters, 10 starters) for his third victory in his career. The 4/5 favorite is trained by Luc Roelens and was reined by Pierre Vercruysse to this 1.16.4kr score that raised his earnings to 31,050 euro.

At end of the Saturday Vincennes program was the Gr. III Prix de Provence (purse 80,000 euro, 2700 meters, 12 starters). Direct Way (5g Quaker Jet-Queens Flore) scored in 1.13.9kr at 7/1 odds for driver Anthony Barrier, trainer Philippe Allaire and breeder/owner Jacques Pauc. 26/1 Doberman (5m Prodigious) was second for driver Yoann Lebourgeois and trainer Franck Nivard. The 1.8/1 favorite Bolando (7m Nijinksi Blue) was third for Eric Raffin and breeder/owner/trainer Alphonse Vanberghen.

At Bergsaker this day was the Sundsvall Open, a Gr. I UET Masters Series event (purse 175,700 euro, 2140 meters autostart, 10 starters) that went to the 19/1 Milligan’s School (5m Yankee Glide-Tori Ann) with Ulf Eriksson up for Stall TZ and trainer Stefan Melander.

This winner enjoyed a pocket trip before emerging in mid-stretch for a length victory timed in 1.10.1kr, to raise his career earnings to 708,070 euro. Sorbet (7m Super Photo Kosmos-Altar Bound) was second for Erik Adielsson, Stall Zet and trainer Daniel Reden at 21/1. 47/1 outsider Pastore Bob (5g From Above) was second for Peter Ingves and trainer Johan Untersteiner. Nadal Broline (8g Yankee Glide-Aimee’s Promise) at 11/1 was fourth for Ulf Ohlsson and fifth was the 1/5 favorite Readly Express (6m Ready Cash-Caddie Dream) with Jorma Kontio up.

This one raced second in the outer before making a three wide effort mid-way on the last lap backstretch. That surge failed leaving Readly Express three wide in the final bend and he tired in the lane to be four lengths off the winner. 

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink