G1 Review: Grand Criterium de Vitesse de la Cote d'Azur.
| Date | Sunday 13 March 2022 |
| Venue | Cagnes-sur-Mer |
| Race | R4 – G1 Grand Critérium de Vitesse de la Côte d'Azur (1609m) |
| Type | International driven autostart for four to eleven-year-olds |
| Winner | Etonnant |
| Driver | Anthony Barrier |
| Trainer | Richard Westerink |
| Breeding | Timoko x Migraine |
| Second | Vivid Wise As |
| Third | Billie de Montfort |
Etonnant demonstrated his versatility with a first victory over 1609m in the G1 Grand Critérium de Vitesse de la Côte d'Azur at Cagnes-sur-Mer on Sunday. The 2021 winner of the G1 Prix de Paris Marathon Race (4150m), Etonnant had been unsuccessful on his previous two attempts tackling the speed test.
The Richard Westerink trained eight-year-old had to something to prove after mixed efforts this season at the Vincennes Winter Meeting. His best performance had been a surprise victory in the G2 Prix d'Amérique Races Q2 - Prix du Bourbonnais (2850m) beating Face Time Bourbon but he could only manage eighth in the G1 Prix d'Amérique (2700m) despite starting favourite.
Two-time winner of the race, Vivid Wise As went straight to the lead around the first left handed turn with the winner eight lengths behind in tenth position. Driver Anthony Barrier made a bold move on the far side to take second place as the field turned the final corner. It was a battle between Etonnant and Vivid Wise As in the closing stages and the former secured victory by half a length. Veteran Billie de Montfort finished third on her final career start.
By winning the G1 Grand Critérium de Vitesse de la Côte d'Azur (1609m), Etonnant earnt an invitation to the G1 Elitloppet (1609m) in Sweden and trainer Richard Westerink confirmed connections would be accepting. Etonnant will be given one race in the interim period – the G1 Prix de l'Atlantique (2150m) at Enghien on 23 April.
