Emeraude de Bais wins Criterium de Vitesse de la Cote d’Azur

Today’s Cagnes sur Mer featured Criterium de Vitesse de la Cote d’Azur (Gr. I, purse 200,000€, 1609 meters autostart, 12 starters) was staged after heavy wind and rain invaded the racecourse.

That did not affect the winning 3.9/1 odds Emeraude de Bais (11f Repeat Love-Haute Tension) from post three with Franck Nivard driving for trainer Benjamin Goetz and owner Herve Carlus. Timed in 1.10.7kr (mile rate 1:53.7) over the sloppy track. The great winning mare now has 22 career wins in 115 starts for 1,169,760€ earned.

To view the race replay click here.

She rallied in the late to defeat 11/1 odds pacesetter Etonnant (11m Timoko-Migraine) making his first start in ’25 after only one start in ’24 for driver Anthony Barrier and trainer/owner Richard Westerink. The 25/1 Ampia Mede SM (9f Ganymede-Polimpia Slide SM) landed third with Vincenzo d’Alessandro Jr. handling the H.E. Bondo trainee for Scuderia SE Fin. Alrajah One (9m Maharajah-Mariu’) was fourth with Gabriele Gelormini aboard for Scuderia My Horse Srl and trainer Marco Azzaroni.

Their stablemate Dylan Dog Font (6m Ringostarr Treb-Ola Bi) was fifth at 40/1 odds driven by Theo Briand. Fakir Merite and Edy Girifalco Gio completed the top seven.

Five horses were miscue dq’s including favorite Go On Boy that went offstride in mid-stretch and Vernissage Grif that went on a break at the start. Photos of Emeraude de Bais follow.

On today’s CSM undercard, the Prix de Rome Tor Di Valle (purse 49,000€, 2925 meters distance handicap, 15 European starters ages 8-11) went to 10/1 odds Oscar RL (9m Ready Cash-Esperance) with trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro up.

The winner recorded his second win in seven starts in France and has now earned 385,334€ lifetime for Germany’s owner Gunter Herz. Home second was 8.6/1 Hudo du Ruel (8g Timoko-Alpine du Ruel) handled by Romain Derieux for trainer Nicolas Ensch and owner Laurent Viricel.

To view the race replay click here.

The 61/1 odds outsider Gimy du Pommereux (9m Coktail Jet-Noune du Pommereux) was third for trainer/driver David Cinier for owner Gilles Llterpiniere.

Yesterday at Bordeaux was the Prix de Lisieux (purse 27,000€, 2650 meters distance handicap, eight starters ages 4-5) and the 25 meter penalized and 1.1/1 odds Lolita Bourbon (4f Orlando Vici-Scala Bourbon-Love You) scored in 1.15.3kr for her fourth career win in 11 starts.

Eric Raffin teamed the Jean Philippe Monclin trainee for owner Yvette Engelke as Lolita advanced her life earnings to 81,000€. The 2/1 Kingman Delo (5g Brillantissime) was a game second for Theo Duvaldestin and Ecurie Quick Star with third to 5.1/1 odds and 25 meter handicapped Louison (4g Rodrigo Jet) with Robin Lamy driving.

To view the race replay click here.

In the Grand Prix Dynavena – Grand Prix des Trotteurs (purse 39,000€, 2650 meters, 10 starters ages 6-11) at Bordeaux the 2.3/1 Julia Quick (6f Magnificent Rodney-Alsy Wood) scored in 1.13.3kr for Theo Duvaldestin driving for Ecurie Quick Star and trainer Thierry Duvaldestin.

To view the race replay click here.

The winner now has nine wins in 29 outings for 192,380€ earned. Ideal de Rivray (7f Vivaldo Bello) was second at 6.7/1 driven by Maxime Yron and 37/1 odds Helios d’Ela (8g Rieussec) landed third for reinsman Cyril Cazengel.

Trotteur Francais, Cagnes sur Mer, Bordeaux files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink