Une de Bannes wins Grand Prix

At Kuurne this day the featured Grand Prix d’Hiver (Mardi Gras) Belgique for a purse of €30,000 went to 9.3/1 Une de Bannes (8f Vroum d’Or-Jeune de Bannes) timed in 1.16.32kr for driver Christophe Martens. The 2325 meter event had 17 International starters. Vincent Martens trains the winner for BVBA Campus RPF. 2.8/1 Ru de l’Airou (11g Cygnus d’Odyssee-Cour d’Intheville) was second for driver/owner Sven Hoste and trainer Jean-Marc Chaineux. Well regarded Artiste Joudes at 9/10 odds was disqualified for driver Joseph Verbeeck and trainer Philippe Allaire.

At Cagnes-sur-mer the Prix Grace Ducal (quinte+ with jackpot €3.95 million, purse €58,000, 2925 meters, 15 European starters) went to 3.3/1 odds Kalle (8g Smok’n Lantern-Burning Desire) driven by trainer Robert Bergh. He was timed in 1.15kr to defeat 2.3/1 Vitinou (7g Jet Fortuna-Hircea) and driver Junior Guelpa with third to 10.3/1 Udine du Dazert (8f Le Retour-License To Win) for trainer/driver Denis Bekaert.

Also at Cagnes-sur-mer the Prix Henri Callier (purse €40,000m 2925 meters, 10 starters) went to the 1.17.5kr timed, 41/1 Calicot du Vivier (4g Repeat Love-Kalika du Vivier) for driver Kevin Vanderschelden. Yves Boireau trains the winner for owner Jean-Pierre Dubois. Stablemate 9/2 Clarabelle (4f Ready Cash-Rebelle) was second driven by Jean-Pierre Dubois for trainer Boireau. 6.9/1 Colibri du Vivier (4m Oiseau de Feux-Iguine du Vivier) was third for Yannick-Alain Briand.

Thomas H. Hicks