Today sported the UET Masters Series Gr. II Prix des Ducs de Normandie (€150,000 purse, 2450 meters, 14 entrants) that was also a special €10 million Quinte+ jackpot. A packed harness racing  audience was on-hand on a sunny, warm day at Caen.

Last year’s winner Roi du Lupin (10g Fleuron Perrine-Helia de Saint Pol) again was the feature race winner clocked in 1.12.8kr, at 3.4/1 odds, for driver J-P Bazire and owner trainer J-P Marmion.

Bazire had the Roi du Lupin, now with 29 career wins in 91 outings for €2,031,645, away alertly and took over from early pacemaker Africaine that secured the pocket. Aladin d’Ecajeul was parked with cover fourth and made a move on the leader off the last bend and faded to finish 12^th. Africaine also yielded to end 10^th and Swedishman showed little to finish 13^th. Uprince was a dq for a miscue.

In the late going 39/1 Ramsey du Ham (10g Indy de Vive-Ufania du Buisson) closed stoutly to be second for Mathieu Abrivard with 26/1 Une Fille d’Amour (7f Infgant du Bossis-Never So Great) third for David Thomain. Uhlan du Val at 48/1 and Beckman at 33/1 were fourth and fifth.

Starters:

Uranie Lorraine, P-A Rynwalt-Boulard

Satin d’Avril, Guillaume Lizee

Saphir de Fille, Anthony Barrier

Africaine, Pierre Vercruysse

Uprince, Franck Nivard

Ramsey du Ham, Mathieu Abrivard

Texas de l’Iton, Tristan de Genouillac

Beckman (SWE), Roberto Andreghetti

Une Fille d’Amour, David Thomain

Aladin d’Ecajeul, Eric Raffin – Elitloppet invitee

Swedishman, Thierry Duvaldestin

Uhlan du Val, Cedrik Megissier

Reve de Beylev, Gabrielle Gelormini

Roi du Lupin, J-M Bazire

Thomas H. Hicks