by Thomas Hedlund

Caen in Normandie, France, played host to the $150,000 Prix de Ducs de Normandie over 2,450 meters on Saturday (May 10), and the event developed into a really exciting race, where two horses reached the wire, basically at the same time in a very strong mile rate: of 1:53.2 over 1.5 miles.

Emeraude de Bais, Hohneck and Ibiki de Houelle all opened quickly and in the aforementioned order they all sat in the front position during the race’s first 500 meters.

Ibiki de Houelle (Love You) became the front runner when the field was formed and driver Eric Raffin had no intention of letting anybody else take control of the event. Hohneck got his chance becoming a serious threat as racing room appeared at the top of the long homestretch in Caen, but Ibiki de Houelle just flew in the hands of Raffin and the victory seemed to be claimed in easy style before the Prix de l’Atlantique winner Iguski Sautonne and Matthieu Abrivard delivered a phenomenal finish on the far outside. Iguski Sautonne closed the gap on Ibiki de Houelle with every step he made and when the horses reached the wire, it was close to impossible to determine the winner.

Inside trotter Ibiki de Houelle had his nose first at the finish and it was two strong performances made by the two 7-year-olds.

Replay here.

Hohneck finished third and his chances of receiving an Elitloppet ticket were reduced. However, the two top horses would both be exciting contributions to the big mile races on May 25.

FRANK GIO OR LOVINO BELLO?

Frank Gio (Face Time Bourbon) with seven wins in 10 attempts, or Lovino Bello (Village Mystic), the fastest 3-year-old trotter 2024 bred in Europe?

Saturday’s (May 10) race card in Caen included the $80,000 Prix RFM, a race for 4-year-olds, with the two top horses on the list. Frank Gio came to the lead midway into the 2,450-meter race. Lovino Bello, now trained by Thierry Duvaldestin, was the early leader and driver Eric Raffin opted a pocket trip in the horse’s first start since Feb. 8. Frank Gio had, on his part, been away from the racetrack since Jan. 25, so it was two very good horses that came back to the track in Caen. And just like Prix des Ducs de Normandie earlier on the card, the battle for the win included Raffin and Matthieu Abrivard, and just like the main race, it ended with victory for Raffin and his drive Lovino Bello in a mile rate of 1:55.1 over 1.5 miles.

Replay here.

ABRIVARD’S NEW STAR TROTTER

Laurent-Claude Abrivard trained Maitre Jacques (Rolling d’Heripre) entered Friday’s (May 9) $120,000 Prix Paul Karle at Vincennes after a three month break from competing. Maitre Jacques made his seventh career start, claimed his fifth win and he proved best in the $200,000 Criterium des Jeunes in February, which means that he probably is the French M-crop’s best colt.

As the big favorite in Friday’s race, driver Alexandre Abrivard could let Maitre Jacques run with cover until a kilometer remaining, when he opted for position first over and at the stretch, Maitre Jacques just jogged to a safe win in a mile rate of 1:58.2 over 1.6 miles.

Replay here.

MAGIC NIGHT FOR ALLAIRE

Philippe Allaire’s Magic Night (Helgafell) got a perfect pocket trip when the 3-year-old fillies met up in Friday’s (May 9) $120,000 Prix Masina at Vincennes. With a free path at the top of the stretch, Magic Night proved best for driver Paul-Philippe Ploquin.

Mattieu Mottier and his My Princess controlled the race in front, but when Magic Night attacked on the outside, she became easy prey for the Allaire trained winner.

Replay here.

Magic Night won in a mile rate of 1:59.4 over 1.6 miles.

NEW INVITATION TO ELITLOPPET

Saturday’s (May 10) invitation by Solvalla, a ticket to Elitloppet, went to Italian horse Always Ek (Filipp Roc), trained by Alessandro Gocciadoro. This was not a big surprise after the horse’s impressive win in the Gran Premio della Lotteria last week. Gocciadoro will probably be the driver behind Always Ek.

Canada’s contribution in Elitloppet, Logan Park, landed on European soil (Frankfurt, Germany) on Saturday, according to Swedish media.

Sad news was announced from France the same afternoon. Horsy Dream, winner of Elitloppet and the Åby World Grand Prix ٢٠٢٤, has most probably made his last start, due to his injury that stopped him from participating in the French winter meeting in Paris ٢٠٢٤-25.

HORSES INVITED TO ELITLOPPET 2025

Go On Boy — France

Logan Park — Canada

Etonnant — France

Borups Victory — Sweden

A Fair Day — Sweden

The Locomotive — Australia

Francesco Zet — Sweden

Don Fanucci Zet — Sweden

Mellby Knekt — Sweden

Mellby Jinx — Sweden

Always Ek — Italy

Elitloppet information can be found here.

Information on the invited horses can be found here.