Group I harness racing action at Paris

June 21. 2015 – The Gr. II Prix Xavier de Saint Paris (monte, €120,000 purse, 2175 meters, 12 starters) went to 2.2/1 Athena de Vandel (5f Prince Gede-Maelia de Vandel-Coktail Jet) for jockey Mathieu Abrivard and trainer Cedrik Megissier. The winner scored in 1.11.3kr for career win number nine and earnings of €401,600. The owner/breeder is Ecurie la Tour de Vandel. Second at 10/1 was Astor du Quenne (5m Opus Viervil-Qjualinka du Quenne) for Eric Raffin with third to 57/1 Amiral du Poitou (5m Oxford du Rib-Katia de Loimade) handled by Damien Bonne

The Gr. I International UET Masters Series Prix Rene Balliere (€200,000 purse, 2100 meters autostart, 11 starters) started the Gr. I events and it went to 6/1 Voltigeur de Myrt (6m Opus Viervil-Myrtille des Bois-Tenor de Baune) with Gabriel Gelormini up for owner/trainer Roberto Donati. The top-performing winner was clocked in 1.10.3kr (race time 2:27.59, mile rate 1:53.11) for his ninth career victory good for €1,040,083 earnings. 3/1 Akim du Cap Vert (5m First de Retz-Prima du Cap Vert) was second for owner/trainer/driver Franck Anne. 5/1 Vinci de l’Abbaye (6m Otello Pierji-Kyboumette) ended third for trainer/driver J-M Bazire. Roxane Griff was a miscue disqualification and Italy’s Olmo Holz and Pace del Rio finished fourth and fifth.

Bilibili (4m Niki-Quetty du Donjon) and Alexandre Abrivard took the Gr. I Prix du President de la Republique (monte, €240,000 purse, 2850 meters, 16 starters) clocked in 1.13kr (race time 3:27.97). The victory was his fourth in a career that now shows €273,700 earned. L. Cl. Abrivard trains Bilibili for owner/breeder J-P Barjon. 4/1 Booster Winner (4m Love You-Quille Viretaute) was second for Eric Raffin and trainer Sebastian Guarato with third to 1.9/1 Best Of Jets (4m Magnificent Rodney-Plume Jets) for Francois Lagadeuc and trainer/owner Jean Michel Baudouin. Bird Parker was disqualified for a miscue.

The Gr. I Prix Albert Viel (€200,000 purse, 2700 meters, 16 starters) went to the Pierre Vercruysse trained/driven 10/1 odds Cobra Bleu (3m Fortuna Fant-Nuit Irisee). He scored in 1.13.6kr for owner/breeder G.E. Morin. The winner recorded his sixth career victory for €204,340 earned. 29/1 Coktail Meslois (3m Roc Meslois-Ocarino Mesloise) was second for trainer/driver Pierre Belloche ahead of 6/1 Cristal Money (3m Coktail Jet-Making Money) with Franck Nivard up for trainer Thierry Duvaldestin. 1/1 odds favorite Captain Crazy was a dq early for a break.

The Gr. I Prix d’Essai (monte, €200,000 purse, 2175 meters, 14 starters) went to 2/1 Carlos des Caux (3m Mien-Star Dodienville) with Mathieu Abrivard aboard. Jacques Bruneau trains this one for Jean-Louis Postel that scored in 1.13.9kr (race time 2:40.72). 3/1 Che Jenilou (3m Goetmals Wood-Pirogue Jenilou) was second for Eric Raffin, trainer Sebastien Guarato and owner Antonio de Sousa. 49/1 Cincinnati Bond (3f Prince Gede-Miranda d’Odyssee) was third for Anthony Barrier. The Group races were well received by a huge crowd this day under sunny skies.

Thomas H. Hicks