Magic Man. Gard, Freedom win at Caen

The Caen undercard this day was a ”dandy” with with two groupe level harness racing tests on stage including monte events. The Prix du Calvados (monte purse 45,000€, 15 European starters ages 6-11) began those races with victory by 3/1 odds Gard (10g Quid de Chahains-Raissa) timed in 1.12.8kr for his14th career win for 289,345€.

He is three for seven in monte races. Benjamin Rochard was the winning jockey for owner/trainer Franck Delanoe. Second was 11/1 odds Hamont de Choisel (9g Vittel de Brevol) handled by jockey Anthony Barrier for trainer S.G. Dupont and owner J.A. Viol. The 44.1 Jus de Fruit (7m Love You) was third ahead of Elegance Kronos (6f Muscle Hill) that J.P. Barjon owns.

Replay https://www.letrot.com/courses/2026-05-09/1400/5

The 3.5/1odds Magic Man (4m Prodigious-Garden Party) took the Prix Guillaume le Conquerant (Gr III International, 80,000€ purse, 2450 meters, 10 four year olds) with Eric Raffin driving for trainer/owner Etienne Dubois Stable.

This one now sports five wins in 14 starts for 211,530€ with this 1.11.5kr clocked triumph. Golden Gio (4m Face Time Bourbon-Zed Wise As) was second at2.3/1 odds with Matthieu Abrivard up for Zacon Gio As and trainer Sebastien Guarato. The 5.2/1odds Mentor de Play(4m Dahlia du Rib) was third for Franck Blandin breaking his five race win streak.Magnum du Choquel (4m Hohneck) at

14/1; Meteore de Simm (4m Boccador de Simm) at 38/1;and Mackinley (4m Fabulous Wood-Ferretria-Goetmals Wood) at 92/1 completed the top six. Jean Pierre Dubois bred and drove Mackinley and his dam earned 496,150€.

Replay https://www.letrot.com/courses/2026-05-09/1400/6

After this event the children took to the track for a sprint race that #110 won with a great finish.

Then 8.8/1odds Miss Des Besaces (4f Memphis du Rib-Caldeira Turgot) captured the Prix Henri Balliere (monte Gr II, purse 120,000€, 2450 meters, 17 starters four year old open) in 1.12.0kr with jockey Alan Gendrot up. R.C. Larue trains this winner for Ecurie de Windcut that owns the four time winner of 322,135€. Manitas de Truchon (4f Etonnant) took second at 26/1 for jockey Mathis Champenois and trainer/owner/breeder Richard Westerink. Milord Jouronnais (4m Dollar Macker) was third for jockey Camille Levesque at 9/1 odds that Thomas Levesque trains for Ecurie du Beryl.

Finally, a story for US/Canada fans as the Prix Georges Dreux (40,000€ purse, 2450 meters, 15 European starters ages 6-11) went to 1.3/1 odds favorite Freedom (8g Muscle Hill-Peaceful Way-Angus Hall) reined by Eric Raffin timed in a swift 1.11.2kr. Serge Lefort owns this Olivier Raffin trainee that has earned 288,116€ and now sports six wins in France.

Replay https://www.letrot.com/courses/2026-05-09/1400/8

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink