Timoko Wins Gr. I Gran Criterium de Vitesse

Timoko, driven by Joseph Verbeeck for owner/trainer Richard Westerink, won the “Flying Mile” at Cagnes ser mer today. This one mile Gr. I UET Masters Series event, for a purse of 200,000 euro, is the most prestigious mile sprinter event in France and the annual feature at Hippodrome Cote d’Azur. The son of Imoko-Kiss Me Coulonces-And Arifant) has been chasing Ready Cash and Royal Dream during the winter meet at Paris-Vincennes. Today was his day as Verbeeck hustled him to the lead, yielding briefly to The Best Madrik before re-taking the front with 600 meters to go. He inched away in deep stretch for a 1-3/4 length score over the game The Best Madrik (Coktail Jet-Lady Madrik-Biesolo), with J. Et. Dubois up, and Reve de Beylev (Fortuna Fant-Heloise Poterie-Tosian Poterie) driven by Eric Raffin. Timoko covered the mile in 1:52.88. Each of the top nine finishers was timed under 1:54. Thirteen went to the gate after the scratch of Neste Effe.

Timoko was second choice in the field at 2.6/1. Today’s victory was his 14th lifetime in 41 starts for career earnings of 1,392,830 euros. Favored Main Wise As (1.8/1) broke at the start and was disqualified.

While each of the top three finishers have some American pedigree, all have inbreeding coefficients under 4%, and each have French trotter/standardbred mix in excess of 52% (Timoko 65% French trotter, The Best Madrik 52% and Reve de Beylev 72%). Timoko’s sire, Imoko, is a son of Viking’s Way, he by Mickey Viking by Bonefish. His dam, Kiss Me Coulonces is by And Arifant, by Sharif di Iesolo, he by Quick Song.

There were two other one-mile sprints on today’s card, the most interesting being a 10,000 euro amateur event (Prix de Livourne) in which Italian trotters finished 1-2-3. The winner, Noah Bi (Toss Out-Fitness Bi-Sugarcane Hanover), covered the mile in 1:55.18 for driver M.L. Alessi, trainer Holger Ehlert and owner Scuderia Free Rabbit. The next two across the line were from Florida Pro and Speedy Crown mares. Earlier the Prix de Milan (purse 26,000 euro) was won by Umberto Mologni and driver Eric Raffin in 1:57.91. This winner is from a Workaholic dam.

Stall Trot, Inc.
Thomas H. Hicks