All around French trotter Etonnant — trained by Richard Westerink and with Anthony Barrier — denied the favorite, Vivid Wise As with Matthieu Abrivard, a triple win in the prestigious Grand Criterium de Vitesse de la Cote d’Azur at the Cagnes sur Mer track.

Vivid Wise As, who had won the race the last two years and was unbeaten in five starts at the Cagnes track, was able to take command after the first quarter, while Etonnant had to trot wide before landing outside leading Vivid Wise As. Down the stretch Etonnant fought bravely to win by a half-length in 1:52.2, followed by Vivid Wise As and Billie de Montfort.

The purse for the winner was 90,000 Euros.

Etonnant is sired by legendary Timoko, who won this race three times in a row and also had a second place.

Etonnant, who is an 8-year-old, is a complete trotter who now has two Group 1-races under his belt — The Prix de Paris (raced over 4,150 meters, approximately 2-5/8 miles) and the Grand Criterium (raced over 1,609 meters – one mile).