March 25, 2017 – Trotting action this week moved around to multiple harness racing venues and nations.
At Lisieux FR (March 23) the featured Prix Vans Barbot (purse €26,000, 2100 meters, 14 european entrants) went to 4/5 favoriyte I Love Paris (7f Steinlager-Marie Dulcinee). David Thomain reined the winner for trainer Bjorn Goop and Norway’s Morten Gunnar Sem, the owner. 11.6/1 Reine du Zack (7f Zinzan Brooke Tur-Giulia Grif) was second for trainer/driver Marco Smorgon and Scuderia Trotto Italiua SAS. Third was 172/1 Vatimus Mas (8g Latinus-Opia Josselyn) and fourth went to 19.6/1 Lets Dance DE (7m Oscar Schinddler SL-Sirmione) with Mathieu Mottier up for trainer Bjorn Goop and German owner Gerhard Sporrer.
On March 23 at Gelsenkirchen (Germany) the Prix Von Cagnes-sur-Mer (purse €5,000, 2025 meters, 11 international starters) went to the game veteran Ru de l’Airou (12g Cygnus d’Odyssee-Cour d’Intheville) at 1.2/1 and teamed by trainer Sven Hoste for J-M Chaineux. The winner recorded his 37th career win in 155 starts for €841,962 earned. Even-money favorite Croatie d’Amour (5f Millenium Wood-Jipsie du Flo) was second driven by Cess Kamminga. Heinrich Platvoet was the breeder. Third was 83/1 Voronoff de Pins (8g Corot). Race time was 1.16.1kr.
Amicellina (6f Goetmals Wood-German Melody) took the Prix de Salzbourg (purse €7,000, 2140 meters autostart, 13 entrants) at 13.5/1 odds. Timed in 1.17.6kr in Austria (Ebreichsdorf-March 24) this winner was reined by Johan Lichtenworther, also trainer, and is owned by Stall Zechmanhof. 3.8/1 Lord Possessed (6g Self Possessed-Crewel Hanover) was second for trainer/driver Peta Schwarzlmuller and owner Team Neuhof.
Special (8g Trophy Catch-Ginger T) took the Prix de Vienne (purse €8,000, 2140 meters autostart, 14 entrants) at Ebreichsdorf Austria timed in 1.15.7kr for driver Christoph Fis as the 2/1 second choice. The 1.7/1 favorite Santiago Diamond (6g Goetmals Wood-Lucy Diamond) was second for trainer/driver Gregor Krenmayr.
Saturday (March 25) at Avenches (Suisse) included the Prix Aubrion du Gers (purse €9,317, 2350 meters autostart, 11 entrants) with the 1.17.3kr victory to 2.7/1 Baci Love. The six year-old gelded son of Goetmals Wood-Sherry Love) was reined by Marcel Humbert for owner Genevieve Wend , and was bred by Jean Baudron. 3/2 odds Batingo (6g Nahar de Beval-Litamia) was second for J-B Matthey, also the trainer.
Thomas H. Hicks
