European action and latest news

Yannick Briand’s trainee Viking Blue (7g Prodigious-Idole Blue)regained winning form today in the €88,000 purse Prix du Chesnay contested by 17 horses over the 2850 meter grande piste at Paris-Vincennes. The winner was timed in 1.13.5kr for driver Dominik Locqueneux. Viking Blue was a dq in his last appearance on February 7 after posting eight straight wins, but today he held the lead gamely at .5/1 odds to best 22/1 Uno Dancer (8g Offshore Dream-Laura Dancer) and 14/1 Tallien (9g Extreme Aunou-Gyka de la Chaise) Urgos du Cedre and Urus ended fourth and fifth as the Q+ exact order payoff was €5,710 without jackpot, for a wager of €2.

On the undercard the Prix de Lens (purse €65,000, monte nine starters) went to 3.3/1 odds Cash du Rib (4g Ready Cash-Quille Castelets) for J.L.Cl. Dersoir, also trainer for Ecurie Jeloca. Timed in 1.16.2kr the winner defeated 10/1 Camarade Sympa handled by Franck Nivard with Castel Black and Clement Frecelle third in a close photo decision. Favorite Coffee d’OIstal ended sixth after going off as the 1.6/1 choice of the punters.

The pick-five Prix de Fontainbleau (purse €60,000, 2700 meters) was a great race and Be Bop Haufor (5g Notre Haufor-Ica Haufor) prevailed by a length at 6.2/1 odds after a relentless stretch drive for owner, trainer/driver Christian Bigeon. Timed in 1.13.5kr after even fractions the winner defeated fast-closing Shiraz Roc (5m Gigant Neo-Bufera Roc) handled by Mathieu Abrivard at 2/1 and third finishing 75/1 outsider Onceforall Face (5g Viking Kronos-Lemonsoda OM) with Eric Raffin up for trainer Lutfi Kolgjini and Stall Vallro AB of Sweden. 7/1 Spirit Real (5g Supergill-Civetta Real) ended fourth between horses for J-M Bazire and trainer Jerry Riordan after being boxed in the lane and fifth went to the game 39/1 pacesetter Schubert (5m Abano As-Glide Be Nimble) that Pierre Vercruysse teamed for Erwin Bot, trainer for Gerrits Recycling BV of Holland.

 €400,000 Grand Prix de Paris

16 horses remain engaged for Sunday’s €400,000 Grand Prix de Paris led by Bold Eagle and Timoko. Expect a few other dropouts on Thursday when the final field is set. Tiego d’Etang and Bird Parker could inflict some damage as Bold Eagle seeks the Triple Crown last won 40 years ago by Bellino II and previously by Jamin and twice by the legenday Gelinotte.

Mack Lobell had been euthanized

Separately it was announced Monday that Mack Lobell had been euthanized at age 32 at Menhammer Stuteri in Sweden. The son of Mystic Park-Matina Hanover-Speedy Count recorded a slate of 71-10-6 in 94 career starts for earnings of 22,408,640SEK (US$2,638,550 at today’s conversion rate) and a 1.09.7kr record. Mack was developed by Chick Sylvester and driven largely by John Campbell before being sold and exported. He won the Elitloppet twice, in 1988 with Campbell driving timed in 1.11.3kr over Sugarcane Hanover and Napoletano and again in 1990 timed in 1.11kr with Thomas Nilsson aboard defeating Peace Corps and driver Stig H. Johansson. It was a great period of international trotting as Napoletano won the 1989 Elitloppet edition and Peace Corps returned to win in 1991. Interestingly, as the FR Triple Crown fast approaches this coming Sunday, the two previous winners also won the Elitloppet, Jamin in 1959 for Jean Riaud and Gelinotte in both 1956-57 for the legendary horseman Charlie Mills.

Also interesting to me is that Mack’s two Elitloppet wins were lightning fast 25 years ago as evidenced by the more recent fastest two winning times of 1.09.5kr by Timoko in 2014 and 1.09.8kr by Exploit Caf in 2008. We will long remember Mack Lobell as a true “World Champion”

Thomas H. Hicks