by Thomas Hedlund

He’s one of the best “H-horses” in France, but hadn’t won a race since the big victory in the 2023 Prix d’Amérique. Hooker Berry (Booster Winner), trained by Frank Leblanc and driven by Nicolas Bazire claimed the $1250,000 Prix Chambon P at Vincennes in a new stakes record on Saturday (June 8) afternoon. The mile rate over 2,850 meters was 1:54.4.

Hooker Berry was served a nice cover trip in second over and showed great speed and form when Bazire attacked at the stretch.

Replay here.

First over trotter Hokkaido Jiel (runner up in the Prix d’Amérique this year) got the bronze medal when Elvis du Vallon finished strongly in second.

Vincennes played host to four half-classic races and when the 5-year-olds faced off in the $125,000 Prix Jean le Gonidec, the entertainment landed at a high level. Winner Jamin de Brion (Charly du Noyer) was served a ground saving trip in third on the inside by trainer and driver Matthieu Abrivard, but it looked like the win was quite far away when the field turned for home. Leader Jasper des Charmes went off-stride at the top of the stretch and Matthieu Abrivard found a path between horses, inside of attacking opponents and the speed was enough for claiming the win in a mile rate of 1:53.3 over 1.3 miles.

Replay here.

William Bigeon’s Kana de Beylev was the first choice when 4-year-old mares battled in the $125,000 Prix Guy le Gonidec over 2,700 meters and for a long time it looked like the dominating lady in the crop could win, but the first over trip cost her some power as it turned out in the end of the race.

Kana de Beylev fought bravely, but couldn’t defend herself when Kelle Beaute (Uniclove) finished strongly from third and second over. Alexandre Abrivard drove Laurent-Claude Abrivard’s mare who claimed her biggest victory so far in her 17th career start in a mile rate of 1:55.3 over 1.6 miles.

Replay here.

Upset specialist Krack Time Atout (Face Time Bourbon) entered the $125,000 Prix Jules Thibault as one of many horses with a great chance of winning and Sébastien Guarato’s 4-year-old continued to show that he really is a horse that belongs among the very best in the French “K-crop.”

Krack Time Atout delivered a big upset in the Criterium des 3 Ans last year and followed up with another upset in the Prix Ourasi in January this year. So, the bettors seem to have learned the lesson when it comes to Krack Time Atout.

In Saturday’s event Paul Philippe Ploquin had to settle in fifth over before the three wide attack was set in with three-quarters-of-a-mile remaining in the 2,700 meters long race. Ploquin drove a perfect race as he let attacking King Opera pass him by before the last turn, so Krack Time Atout could rest with great cover in second over throughout the last turn.

King Opera put hard pressure on leading favorite Koctel du Dain and seemed to have some advantage before Krack Time Atout was given the full order of attack at the stretch. And it was an outstanding Krack Time Atout that flew to win in a mile rate of 1:54.4 over 1.6 miles.

Replayhere.

HAIL MARY DEFENDED THE TITLE IN ÖSTERSUND

Daniel Redén trained Hail Mary (Googoo Gaagaa) proved best in Saturday’s (June 8) $115,000 Jämtlands Stora Pris and Örjan Kihlström did everything right in the bike.

Mellby Jinx came to the lead and Hustle Rain connected on the outside as the field formed after a quarter of a mile. That meant that Hail Mary could save power in second over, but at the same time there was a bit of great tactics from Daniel Wäjersten and Magnus A Djuse in front. The pace was relatively slow for this kind of race and Hail Mary tried one attack on the backstretch, which ended with hesitation on Kihlström’s part, so he went back to the back of Hustle Rain and stayed there until the top of the stretch. Then the race was more or less over. Hail Mary sprinted to an easy win, for the second year in a row, and the 8-year-old Googoo Gaagaa son came home in a mile rate of 1:55 over 1.3 miles.

Hustle Rain was a brave runner up and leader Mellby Jinx held to third place.