On Saturday, Cagnes-sur-Mer conducts the feature harness race of their Summer Meeting which is the G2 Grand Prix du Département des Alpes-Mari (1609m). Vivid Wise As has won the last three renewals and this year will bid to make history and become the first horse to win four titles of this autostart race.
There are two feature race-meetings in France this weekend with G2 feature races. In trotting, Cagnes-sur-Mer hosts the Grand Prix du Departement des Alpes-Mari whilst Deauville will see the running of the Grand Prix de Deauville.
At Cagnes-sur-Mer the Grand Prix du Departement des Alpes-Mari (G2) will be run over 1609m from behind the autostart. An elite field of Group One horses has been assembled with a further clash – and potentially the season finale between the 2022 duelling sprint champions – Etonnant and Vivid Wise As. The scorecard this season is six races with Etonnant 3 – Vivid Wise As 3.
Which horse will claim the Sprinting Championship crown? This should be a cracking race with keen interest in the tactics that will be applied to both horses.
In February this year, the pair first met tackling the Grand Prix de France (G1) [2100m] where Vivid Wise As won recording a blistering 1'09"7. Etonnant was disqualified early in the race. They then met over this course and distance in the Grand Criterium de Vitesse Cote d'Azur (G1) [1609m] where Etonnant, applied a different driving tactic coming from well back in the field to take advantage of the long-home straight, turning the tables on Vivid Wise As winning by a half-length in 1'09"9.
It was then to Enghien in April for the Prix d'Atlantique (G1) [2100m]. Revenge occurred for Vivid Wise As recording a three-quarter of a length victory over Etonnant in 1'11"7.
Sweden was where the pair next pitted against each other in the final (each horse was in a separate heat) of the Elitlloppet (G1) [1609m] at Sovalla with Etonnant winning the final in 1'09"2 whilst Vivid Wise As finished fourth.
It was then back to Vincennes for the Prix Rene Balliere (G1) [2100m] in June. Vivid Wise As won after settling mid-field whist Etonnant tried to lead throughout and was cut down in the final strides to be beaten a nose.
Their latest encounter was in Belgium at Mons at the end of July in the Grand Prix de Wallonie (G1) [2300m] with Etonnant beating Vivid Wise As in 1'12"6.
On Saturday, the competition will continue between these two outstanding eight-year-olds. It is a race that will be one of the trotting seasons' highlights!
| Horse | Positives | Negatives |
| Delia du Pommereux | Previous G1 winnerWon over €1.5mPlaced in G2 over this journey two starts ago | Yet to win over this distance |
| Eden Basque | Racing consistently placing in Group level races | Yet to race over this distance |
| Eileen | Good track record of three wins from five races | Eligible for lesser level conditions races |
| Etonnant | Winner of three G1 races this seasonC&D G1 winner this seasonBest form of his career | Faces a strong and proven rival who he has beaten three times this year including over C&D |
| Bleff Dipa | Quality Italian big race winnerLast start third over this distance in G2 | Previously struggled in France attempting G1 races |
| Ecureuil Jenilou | Winner of past three outings up to G3 levelExcellent track record of 34 starts for 19 wins and nine placingsDespite his age, remains progressive | Yet to race over this trip |
| Vivid Wise As | Winner of three G1 races this seasonWon this race the past three yearsSix course & distance starts for five wins and a second (in a G1) | Faces a strong and proven rival who he has beaten three times this yearOnly defeat over C&D was against this horse |
| Eclat de Gloire | Good performer to G3 level | Yet to race over this distance |
