€110,000 Prix de Plateau de Gravelle

Gabriele Gelormini reined well-regarded Amiral Sacha (6m Ganymede-Nostalgique Sacha) to victory in the Gr. III Prix de Plateau de Gravelle (purse €110,000, 2100 meters autostart) at Paris–Vincennes. The well-regarded winner, off at 1.8/1 odds, recorded his fifth harness racing victory in the last ten outings. Ecurie Sidere owns Amiral Sacha. Second was 26/1 Beckman (9g Turbo Sund-Nins Palema) with Franck Nivard up and third finishing was fast-closing Anna Mix (6f Ludo de Castelle-Ires) at 9/10 odds for driver Pierre Vercruysse and owner/trainer Franck Leblanc.The excellent field also included Tornado Bello that was fourth for Pierre Levesque and the Bjorn Goop teamed Luckycharm Hanover that hugged the pegs to be fifth. Time for the winner was 1.11.9kr off rated fractions (1.12.5kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.12.5kr at the 1000, 1.12.6kr at the 500).

Zonguldak (7g Love You-Heartenings Crown) took the Q+ Prix du Cantal (purse €90,000, 2850 meters, 18 starters) for Christophe Martens, Vincent Martens trainer and Joseph Danduffel owner. Timed in 1.15.2kr the winner was off at 5.9/1 odds. 2.7/1 Ange de Lune (g Laetemter Diem-Kera Elle) was next for trainer/driver Mathieu Abrivard but didsqualifed, with third placed second to 5.2/1 Rosemary Gar (6f Donato Hanover-Allstar FC) for J-M Bazire, trainer Salvatore Minopli for Allenamento Team Minopoli. Udo’s Oiler was fourth placed third for Dominik Locqueneux at 16/1 and Rico Follo was fifth placed fourth for Bjorn Goop at 36/1. Poker Kronos (7g Viking Kronos-Frances Lavec) was placed fifth driven by Pierre Vercruysse.

The Norwegian coldbloods were featured in the Prix des Trotteurs “Sang-Froid” for a purse of €20,000 over the 2100 meter autostart course. Finnskog Fokus (9g Spikeld-Silje Spreta) recorded victory at 25/1 odds for Gunnar Austevol timed in 1.24.2kr over Guli Rask (8g Jarvsofaks-Guli Tessan) handled by Franck Nivard ay 4.7/1. Third was Jarvso Rasmus (7g Lumjor Eik Anna) at 31/1 for Bjorn Goop.

The Prix d’Epinay (purse €37,000, 2100 meters autostart, 12 starters) was timed in 1.12.9kr by the winner 17.4/1 odds Clint d’Ambri (4g Hulk des Champs-Old Girl) driven by Gabriele Gelormini. 13/1 Chocolat du Bourg (4m Nahar de Beval-Malouvia) was second for Joel Van Eeckhaute, also owner/trainer. 14/1 Cocktail d’Auvrecy (4g Kaiser Soze-Meliana Bella) was third for Ecurie Jeloca and trainer/driver J.L.Cl.Dersoir.

2.8/1 favorite Bayern (5g Jam Pridem-Fulanera) took the monte Prix des Andelys (purse €65,000, 2700 meters) for Leo Abrivard for owned/trainer Yannick A. Briand timed in 1.14.3kr. The victory was his second straight in 2016 and fourth in the last ten outings. His career earnings now exceed €151,000. 75/1 Bifidus (5g Quopeck-Omaha Lika) was second for P-Edouard Mary with third to 12.5/1 Beautiful Dussac (5g And Arifant-Olympe de Dussac).

The 0.5/1 heavy favorite Cedea Josselyn (4f Love You-Dea Josselyn) took the Prix de Guise (purse €65,000, 2700 meters) timed in 1.15.6kr for trainer/driver Jean-Michel Bazire for Yvan Barnard, owner. Cedea Josselyn scored her fifth victory in the last eight efforts and her earnings now exceed €112,000. 18/1 Cathy A Quira (4f Password-Quira des Jacquets) rallied for second for Franck Nivard with third to 62/1 Class Petteviniere (4f Repeat Love-Nice Petteviniere) for teamster Franck Ouvrie.

Victoire Smiling (7f Memphis du Rib-Kediva) took the Prix de Vire (purse €70,000, 2175 meters, monte) for Julien Raffestin timed in 1.12.6kr. She was off at 36/1 odds in defeat of 7/1 Volcan de Bellande (7g Magnificent Rodney-Etoile de Bellande) with third to 6/1 Accordeon (6g Baccarat du Pont-Quaba des Corvees) with Alexandre Abrivard up.

Thomas H. Hicks