Duvaldestin show at Vincennes
by Thomas Hedlund
It was a banner day for the Duvaldestin barn as Vincennes played host to the $330,000 Criterium des 4 Ans on Saturday (Sept. 13).
Theo Duvaldestin wasted no time sending Lancier du Goutier (Ready Cash—Elissi James) straight to the front, and the colt caught a break when several rivals made costly breaks in the early going. Once on the lead, Lancier du Goutier set moderate fractions while favorite Liza Josselyn was forced to grind from fourth-over with a lap remaining. Jean-Michel Bazire’s filly never got the cover trip she wanted, parked outside Live To Tell and Anthony Barrier, who refused to let Liza Josselyn pass her.
Lancier du Goutier opened up daylight off the final bend, only to tire late. Both Lovino Bello (Village Mystic) and Lombokh Jiel (Enino du Pommereux) closed strongly on the far outside, but their rally was too late. Lancier du Goutier lasted, by a head, in a mile rate of 1:56.3 for 1¾ miles.
Watch the replay here.
DUVALDESTIN’S JOY, ALLAIRE’S HEARTBREAK
Philippe Allaire, a perennial force with young trotters, looked to have struck gold in the $330,000 Criterium des 3 Ans. His filly Magic Night (Helgafell—Byblis du Goutier) hit the wire first — but the stewards saw it differently.
Thierry Duvaldestin’s Mack de Blary (Face Time Bourbon) left alertly, then yielded after 700 meters to Paul-Philippe Ploquin and Magic Night. The pace was hot, and at the head of the lane, Mack de Blary angled out of the pocket with dead aim.
Magic Night drifted out badly through the stretch, impeding Mack de Blary’s rally. Though she narrowly held on at the line, the stewards demoted her to second, elevating Mack de Blary and Theo Duvaldestin to the official victory in a mile rate of 1:56.4 for the 1 11/16 miles. Magnum du Choquel (Hohneck) rounded out the top three in 1:56.6.
Watch the replay here.
KRACK TIME ATOUT TOPS THE FIVE-YEAR-OLDS
Sébastien Guarato’s Krack Time Atout (Face Time Bourbon), winner of the 2022 Criterium des 3 Ans, returned to the big stage with a sparkling rally to capture Saturday’s $330,000 Criterium des 5 Ans at Vincennes.
Driver Franck Nivard kept the 5-year-old well back early while heavy favorite Koctel du Dain (Boccador de Simm) worked his way to the lead after 900 meters. Trouble soon followed when the well-regarded Keep Going made a costly break and wound up parked on the outside before fading badly in the far turn.
With one kilometer to go, King Opera (Ready Cash) made a three-wide bid, towing Krack Time Atout into striking position. Down the long Vincennes stretch, Nivard’s charge surged past both King Opera and Koctel du Dain to win going away in a mile rate of 1:54.3 for 1¾ miles.
For Krack Time Atout, the victory adds to a résumé that already includes his Criterium des 3 Ans crown and a third-place finish in last year’s $440,000 European Derby, won by Epic Kronos. Koctel du Dain held second while King Opera checked in third.
Watch the replay here.
NUNCIO-SON PREVAILS IN FINNISH KRITERIUM
The favorite from post 2, boasting one of the best winning records in the field, partnered with Finland’s top reinsman all added up to a fitting victory in the $180,000 Finnish Kriterium for Ancio.
The gelded son of Nuncio—Northern Trick came into the Tampere final with six wins in eight starts this season, and it was no surprise that he carried the betting public’s confidence. Driver Santtu Raitala, runaway leader in the Finnish drivers’ standings, wasted little time seizing command. After 400 meters, Ancio was on the point.
An opening half in :56.3, leaving little chance for the chasers to reach the heavy favorite. Both Piccolo Cocktail (Maharajah) and Magnitude (Maharajah) closed gamely, but had to settle for second and third.
Ancio stopped the clock in a mile rate of 2:00.3 for 1⅝thmiles, good for a winner’s share of $٨٦,٠٠٠.
SKYLIGHT WIRES THE FIELD IN NORWEGIAN OAKS
There were hopes for a Swedish triumph in Saturday’s $180,000 Norwegian Oaks at Bjerke, but Petri Salmela’s Lilium Sisu (Face Time Bourbon) had to settle for second best behind a front-running winner that proved too tough.
Magnus Teien Gundersen wasn’t part of the early battle for command, but once the field hit the backstretch, he sent Skylight (Readly Express—Sabrina Frecel) on a decisive move to the lead. Once in control, the filly traveled strongly, and though Lilium Sisu loomed in the final turn, the outcome was never in doubt.
Skylight kicked clear through the lane to score comfortably for owner Geir Vegard Gundersen and driver Magnus Teien Gundersen, stopping the clock in a mile rate of 1:56.3 for 1 5/16 miles. Lilium Sisu held second in 1:57, while Tamarina (Papagayo E) earned the show spot for Lars Anvar Kolle.
UPSET WINNER IN NORWEGIAN FILLY KRITERIUM
Saturday’s $140.000 Norwegian Filly Kriterium at Bjerke produced a big breakthrough for young trainer/driver Björn Steine, who guided his own longshot Ificandream E.P. to a career-defining victory.
The Readly Express—Long Tall Sally E.P. filly was parked first-over through the opening stages, but after 750 meters she picked up cover when Stella Ammik launched from second-over for Eirik Høitomt.
Meanwhile, front-running A.V.’s Shannon controlled the fractions and appeared headed to victory. But when room opened up at the head of the stretch, Ificandream E.P. dug in and wore down the leader, prevailing narrowly in a mile rate of 2:00.2 for 1 5/16 miles.
A.V.’s Shannon had to settle for second, while Stella Ammik held third.
