Iguski Sautonne dominates Grand Criterium de Vitesse

Iguski Sautonne (8m Village Mystic-Sara Sautonne-Juliano Star) rocketed  to the frony at the start and dominated for a three length harness racing victory in the classic Grand Criterium de Vitesse de  la Cote d’Azur (Gr I Imnternational,purse200,000€, 1609  meters autostart,13 starters ages 4-11) at Cagnes sur Mer.

He was clocked in 1.08.6 (mile 1:50.40)  the second fastest in race history being the 1.08.1kr set in 2024 by Vernissage Grif. Matthieu Abrivard drove and trains this 21 time winner in 65 craeer starts for 1,137,980€. Ecurie LD-M Abrivard owns the 6.6/1 odds champion that this winter captured the monte Prix de Cornulier. Rallying for second was 8.2/1 Harley Gema (9f Bold Eagle-Reedite Gede-Buvetier d’Aunou) handled by Benjamin Rochard forowner/trainer Marc Sassier. The1.3/1odds favorite Go On Boy  (10m Password-Balginette-Hasting) held third  after pressing the leader first over driven by trainer Romain Derieux  for Caroline Logier the  owner.  The 13/1 Inmarosa (8f Amiral Sacha-Varkava) was fourth driven by Leo Abrivard, followed by  33/1 Fellow Wise As (5m Maharajah) with Nicolas Bazire, 9/1  Frank Gio (5m Face Time Bourbon) with Gabriele Gerlormini  up and 5.4/1 odds Executiv EK (6m Face Time Bourbon) was seventh for Alessandro Gocciadoro.

It was quite a performance by the  exceptional winner before a big audience on a beautiful day on the sea.

Replay https://www.letrot.com/courses/2026-03-08/601/4

Niagara River (6f Orlando Vici-Hopewell River) took the Prix de Milan (purse33,000€, 2700 meters, 10 European starters  ages 6-10 females) on the undercard in coast to coast fashion drawing clear in the lane for the1.12.9kr timed victory, her first  in France.

Her career  bankroll advanced to159,167€ for owner KXG de Poorer, trainer Danny Brouwer and driver Micha Brouwer.  She was off at 13/1odds and defeated 2.8/1 odds Toscana Southwind (8f Bold Eagle-Coco Chip-Chip Chip Hooray) handled by Benjamin Rochard fo rJJ Travsport ITB and trainer  H.E. Bondo.  Third was the 55/1  Estera GI (6f Vivid Wise As-Lovely Fame) driven by her trainer Andrea Guzzinati for Scuderia Gariglio Dario.

Replay  https://www.letrot.com/courses/2026-03-08/601/3

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink