Focus on French harness racing moves from “the temple of trot,” Vincennes in Paris, to Cagnes sur Mer, a track situated close to the Mediterranean Sea.

On Sunday afternoon (March 10), some of Europe’s best trotters will meet in the Gran Criterium de Vitesse de la Cote d’Azur — the richest mile race in France with a total purse of 200,000 Euro.

Italian-owned Vivid Wise As (sired by Yankee Glide) and trained by Alessandro Gocciadoro has dominated this race the last four years with three wins and a second. Vivid Wise As with French driver Matthieu Abrivard is going for a fourth win in the race, but faces tough competition from Go On Boy with Romain Derieux (this year’s second in the Prix d’Amerique) and Emeraude de Bais with Franck Nivard, who was second to Vivid Wise As in this race last year.

The start list for the 1,609 meter auto is below. Eight trotters go behind the gate and five will race from the second tier. Post time is 9:15 a.m. (eastern time).

1. Vernissage Grif – A. Gocciadoro
2. Emeraude De Bais – F. Nivard
3. Inmarosa – Léo. Abrivard
4. Go On Boy – R. Derieux
5. Vivid Wise As – M. Abrivard
6. Hooker Berry – N. Bazire
7. Bleff Dipa – R. Vecchione
8. Capital Mail – A. Di Nardo
9. Heliade Du Goutier – G. Gelormini
10. Daughter As – P. Gubellini
11. Imhatra Am – E. Raffin
12. Dear Friend – D. Wajersten
13. Eric The Eel – D. Bekaert

You can follow the race at www.letrot.com.