December 16, 2015 – Today’s Quinte+ Prix Guy Lux (purse €85,000, 2850 meters, 18 starters, Q+ jackpot €4.35 million) went to the impressive, rallying 10.6/1 odds Teatro (8m Ganymede-Josette) driven by owner/trainer Christian Bigeon.
16.3/1 Tellement Haufor (8f Ganymede-Mamba d’Haufor) was next for Ch-J Bigeon, this one owned by trainer Christian Bigeon as well. Third went to 20.7/1 Un Satin Rose (7g Ganymede-Dentelle Rose) for driver Franck Ouvrie in this Ganymede-sired sweep, Ulster Perrine was fourth at 1.7/1 and 10.7/1 Unique de l’Iton was fifth.
Fractions were even in this 2850 meter test (1.16.4kr at 1500 meters to go; 1.15.3kr at 1000; 1.15.1kr at 500) with the winner clocked in 1.14.1kr after a quick last 500 meters.
The €85,000 purse Prix de Rostrenen (2700 meters, 8 starters, monte) was won by 3/5 favorite Boss du Meleuc (4g Lucky Blue-Rafale du Meleuc) ridden by Eric Raffin for trainer/owner Yannick Alain Briand. 4/1 Biscuit Delavera (4m Ludo de Castelle-Neva du Rosier) landed second for Clement Frecelle and trainer Jean-Luc Bigeon, with 6.7/1 odds Bijou d’Auvillier (4g Kepler-Olive d’Auvillier) home third for jockey Caroline Cheradame and trainer Aleandre Lebourgeois. The winner was timed in 1.13.9kr (1.12.8kr at 1500, 1.12.9kr at 1000, 1.13.8kr at 500). The winner led from the start and by 20 lengths through the 1000 meters to go mark.
2.4/1 odds Bugsy Malone (4g Ready Cash-Night Captain) took the €65,000 purse, 2700 meters Prix de Luxe ahead of 17 rivals. Yoann Lebourgeois teamed the trainee of Philippe Allaire, also owner. 8.2/1 Black d’Arjeanc (4g Prince d’Espace-Perle de Riviere) was second for Damien Bonne and trainer Sebastien Guarato ahead of the Franck Nivard teamed, Franck Leblanc trained, 30/1 odds Baron du Chere (4m Goetmals Wood-Imperiale du Chene). Fractions were even (1.14.7kr at 1500 to go, 1.13.9kr at 1000, 1.13.8kr at 500 to go, 1.13.7kr finish).
The featured Gr. III Prix Auguste Francois (purse €110,000, 2175 meters, 14 starters) went to 2.1/1 odds favorite Moving On (6f Quite Easy-Kings Blondie) that rallied late to gain advantage and then held on for Franck Nivard, trainer Fabrice Souloy and Ecurie IC Equine. Timed in 1.11kr (mile rate 1:54.24) the winner prevailed from fast-closing Texas de l’Iton (8g Cygnus d’Odyssee-Iliada de l’Iton) with Mathieu Mottier aboard at 48/1. Hughes Levesque trains this one. Third was 7/1 Udayama (7f Echo-Lancio de Pont) for trainer/owner Loic Groussard and jockey Gaetan Prat, beaten just a length with fourth to 13/1 odds Vagabondu Mag (6g Ozio Royal-Perle du Ravary) and Eric Raffin for trainer Bruno Bourgoin. Veteran Torre Crepin (8g Capriccio-Lanaka) ended fifth at 16/1 for Adrien Lamy and trainer Bruno Marie with fast pacesetter Nonant le Pin (8f Goetmals Wood-Blazing Janice-Pine Chip) sixth for Alexandre Abrivard and trainer Stephani-Catherine Lepetit at 12/1. The fractions were wicked from the start (1.07.6kr at 1500 meters to go, 1.08.2kr at 1000, 1.10.3kr at 500, 1.11kr finish).
The €55,000 purse Prix de Fos Sur Mer (2700 meters, 15 European starters) for five year-old mares went to 1.15.7kr timed, 8.5/1 odds Rosemary Gar (5f Donato Hanover-Allstar FC) for Mario Minopoli Jr, trainer Salvatore Carro and Scuderia Allevemento Team Minopoli. 40/1 Valetta Strix (5f Going Kronos-Afrodite Sund) was next for Eric Raffin and trainer Lutfi Kolgjini ahead of a pack that included third finishing 5.5/1 Agrippa Mesloise (5f Jasmin de Flore-Jessie Mesloise) for Pierre Beloche, also trainer.
Thomas H. Hicks
