Harness racing trainer/driver Richard Westerink showcased lightly raced Cocomoko (3m, Imoko-Kiss Me Coulonces) today at Le Cepiere and it produced a comfortable win clocked in 1.17.3kr in the Prix Aerocons Tellation (€22,000 purse, seven starters) as the 9/10 favorite. 2.8/1 Cristal des Baux was second ahead of 11.7/1 Carl des Penguen. The winner is worth tracking for the future.
At Vincennes the Prix Regulus (€55,000 purse, 2850 meters, 13 starters) went to As Dore (5m Coktail Jet-Dragee d’On) for teamster Dominik Locqueneux and trainer Franck Leblanc. Timed in a sharp 1.12.7kr the 10.1/1 odds winner handled Arpont d’Ostal (5m Meaulnes du Corta-Quina Perrine) and J-Ph Mary ahead of third finishing Valmayor (5g Le Retour-Kornnaya du Bac) for Joseph Verbeeck at 4.7/1.
The card also featured the Prix Leo (€55,000 purse, 2100 meters autostart, 16 European starters) resulted in a 1.11.6kr victory for 9.1/1 odds Toopie du Hetre (8g Jasmin de Flore-Ixla de Perthos) and Eric Raffin. Favorite at 1.3/1 odds Universal Rider (7m Nahar de Beval-Hanska) ended second for Mathieu Mottier with Ucapata third at 14/1.
Thomas H. Hicks
