Juninho Dry wins the Prix Victor Regis by a nose
by Thomas Hedlund
Sébastien Guarato’s 3-year-old Criterium des 3 ans winner Juninho Dry (Carat Williams) had to fight hard for the win in the $120,000 Prix Victor Regis at Vincennes on Saturday (Oct. 29) afternoon. Driver Paul Philippe Ploquin did his job correctly when the race started and Juninho Dry hit the lead without problems.
The 3-year-old Carat Williams son got company from Jack Tonic (left third inside position with a half mile to go) at the back stretch and throughout the last turn and when they turned for home, Juninho Dry seemed beaten by the outside trotter. But, he reluctantly gave up the race and when the wire approached, Guarato’s 3-year-old had fought his way back to a small advantage. Juninho Dry won by a nose in a mile rate of 1:56 over 1.3 miles.
In the $120,000 Prix Uranie for the 3-year-old fillies, Alexandre Abrivard was successful behind Laurent Claude Abrivard trained Just Love You (Love You). Abrivard opted position first over at the back stretch and he could let Just Love You rest behind leader Jamaica Turbo throughout the last turn for later attacking the latter.
Just Love You had the race under control at the home stretch and Abrivard’s horse came home in a mile rate of 1:54.4 over 1.3 miles.
MILLIGAN’S SCHOOL RETIRES
Stefan Melander trained and owned Milligan’s School (Yankee Glide—Tori Ann) has retired from racing and the 9-year-old American-bred stallion will now work as a stud in Sweden.
Melander bought Milligan’s School from Andy and Julie Miller after the horse’s 3-year-old season and after a mediocre season as a 4-year-old, he developed to become one of the best older trotters in Europe.
His 5-year-old season contained wins in the $400,000 Master du Trot and the $200,000 Sundsvall Open Trot and Milligan’s School continued to consolidate his position in the top during the following years.
In 2021, he claimed the trophy in the $300,000 Åby Stora Pris. In total, Milligan’s School has collected five group-1 victories in Europe.
His 136 lifetime starts resulted in 33 wins and $1,641,975 in earnings.
