El Catwalk and Butler win in France

On Monday (June 6) at Chatelaillon the Grand Prix Dynavena Maisagri Duran (purse €25,000, 2625 meters, 16 harness racing European starters) went to 4/5 favorite El Catwalk with J-M Bazire up. The shoeless five year-old daughter of Classic Photo-El Mistress Leena) is owned in Finland by Yorgen Fenech and trained by Fabrice Souloy. She completed the extended distance in 1.14.3kr to defeat 6.8/1 Yankee’s Photo (8m SJ’s Photo-Yankee Tracer) driven by Francois Lecanu for trainer Bjorn Gulbransen and Norwegian owner Sissel Vatnoy. 22.4/1 Ta Rose du Boirond (9f Fripon Rose-Jacinthe Express) landed third for Eric Raffin, this one also racing barefoot.

At Saint Brieuc on June 5 the Prix Bold Eagle (purse €20,000, 2575 meters, 16 starters with apprentice drivers) went to 62/1 longshot A Belle Lady (6f Niky-Fair Lady) timed in 1.17.1kr for driver Mlle. Marie-Stephanie Bazire. Christian Bazire trains the winner for owner/breeder Mme. Jeannine Bazire. 2.7/1 Boavista (5f Repeat Love-New Star Is Born) took send for Benjamin Bonne and trainer Sebastien Leblond, despite a 25 meter handicap. 8.4/1 Black Vauceen (5g Open Charm-Made in Roumanie) took third for Alexis Popot, this one also penalized 25 meters at the start.

Sunday’s Lignieres’ Prix Quokine Berry (purse €35,000, 2825 meters, 17 starters) went to rallying 23.2/1 Ulla Beco (8f Indy de Vive-Nectarine Rose) timed in 1.16.5kr for driver Antoine-Paul Bezier. Maxime Bezier is the trainer. 8.5/1 Vista de Carsac (7f Impact du Rib-Kaoulet de Carsac) took second for trainer/driver Gilles Vidal ahead of 6.9/1 Tom du Sablier (9g Erquy de Vive-Iaka Wildland) with Martin Cormy up.

Butler (5m Ready Cash-Odysse d’Isques) took the Sunday Hippodrome Lyon-Parilly featured Prix du Duche de Normandie (purse €32,000, 2850 meters, 13 starters) clocked in 1.15.4kr for driver Franck Jamard. Off at 12.7/1 the winner is co-owned (with Knutsson Trotting) and trained by Anders Lindqvist. Lindqvist also bred the winner along with Philippe Allaire. Second went to 11/1 Bambino du Pre (5g Lontzac-Ouidjie du Pre) with Anthony Menager up and the 4/1 odds Brindor (5g Mage de la Merite-Houba des Etangs) ended third for Rudolphe Douyere at the lines.

Saturday’s Paris-Vincennes’ featured Gr. II Prix Louis Jariel (purse €120,000, 2175 meters) is now down to nine starters that includes Bold Eagle, Bird Parker and Billie de Montfort plus a classy array of other contestants. This first start back after the breeding season will be a nice test for Bold Eagle.

Thomas H. Hicks