The chestnut trotter Gu d’Heripre, trained by Fabrice Souloy and with Francois Lagadeuc in the bike, was a surprising winner of the Prix de Bourgogne at Vincennes on New Year’s Eve.
Gu d’Heripre won the 1-5/16th mile event by a length, timed in 1:52.3 (mile rate), followed by the mare Emeraude de Bais, trained by Benjamin Goetz and with Matthieu Abrivard driving, while the race favorite, the Italian mare Ampia Mede SM with Franck Nivard and also trained by Fabrice Souloy, finished third.
Both Gu d’Heripre and Ampia Mede SM were already qualified for the Prix d’Amerique, so only one wild card for the big dance was handed out to Emeraude de Bais.
Gu d’Heripre is sired by the legendary Coktail Jet, who also is the grandsire of Emeraude de Bais (sired by Repeat Love — a full brother to Love You).
Ampia Mede SM is sired by Ganymede, who like Coktail Jet and Repeat Love were bred by the Dubois family.
Elitlopp winner Hohneck was leading a long time, but tired and finished unplaced; also North American-bred Beads finished out of the money.