by Thomas Hedlund

The $223,000 Prix de l’Etoile for 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds at Vincennes in Paris ended with an upset winner in Feliciano (Ready Cash), driven by David Thomain.

The Prix de l’Etoile is a special race where the 3-year-olds start from a distance of 2,150 meters which is 50 meters ahead of the older trotters and it was 3-year-old Green Grass (Bold Eagle) who was eager in front during the race’s first 1,175 meters.

Philippe Allaire-trained Feliciano waited calmly in fifth and David Thomain pulled the horse for position second over with a half-mile to go. The serious attack came with 300 meters to go and Feliciano captured the trophy in a splendid mile rate of 1:53 over 1.3 miles.

Falcao de Laurma finished strongly for second place and Estola earned the bronze medal.

In the $223,000 Prix de Normandie monté race (racing under saddle) for 5-year-olds, Etoile de Bruyere (Kenor de Cosse) won for jockey Adrien Lamy after a perfect trip in second over. The mile rate was 1:58.1 over 1.9 miles.

Lionel tries again

Norwegian trotter Lionel was close to the victory in last year’s International Trot at Yonkers. Second to Cruzado dela Noche, Lionel showed that he likes the conditions in New York and owner/trainer Göran Antonsen plans to make the trip overseas once again, according to Norwegian media tgn.no.

These horses are set for the race at Yonkers on Oct. 12:

Lionel – Norway
Atlanta – USA
Guardian Angel As – USA
Marion Marauder – USA
Slide So Easy – Denmark
Sobel Conway – Finland
Bahia Quesnot – France
Uza Josselyn – Switzerland
Zacon Gio – Italy