Feature Race Review: Prix d'Amérique Races Q2 - Prix du Bourbonnais.
| Date | Sunday 11 December 2022 |
| Venue | Vincennes |
| Race | R4 – G2 Prix d'Amérique Races Q2 - Prix du Bourbonnais (2850m) |
| Type | International Driven walk-up for four-to-ten-year-olds |
| Winner | Hooker Berry |
| Driver | Nicolas Bazire |
| Trainer | Jean-Michel Bazire |
| Breeding | Booster Winner x Osaka Berry |
| Second | Hussard du Landret |
| Third | Etonnant |
| Trainer, Jean-Michel Bazire maintained his excellent recent run of form winning the G2 Prix d'Amérique Races Q2 - Prix du Bourbonnais (2850m) with his son Nicolas steering Hooker Berry to a big race success. The fifteen runners began well establishing formation very early on. Nicolas Bazire managed to secure a good position placing Hooker Berry on the inside sharing the lead with Vivid Wise As and Etonnant as they approached the home straight for the first time. This was despite an awkward low head carriage. At that point, Flamme du Goutier along with French debutant and new stablemate to the winner Beads were both already disqualified. Last year's winner, Etonnant was leading the field passing the stands with a circuit go from Vivid Wise As and Gala Téjy. The decent tempo was maintained down the far side and eventual winner, Hooker Berry kept his forward position in third place, three back on the inside pegs with around fifteen lengths between first and last. The order remained unchanged throughout the contest until the runners took the final turn into the home straight where the field was beginning to sandwich together. Bazire made his move entering the straight angling out to be two deep. The five-year-old took second with 350m to go. Vivid Wise As appeared incapable of giving more as the leading duo stretched clear and even Etonnant had no answer to Hooker Berry looking impressive going ahead and outclassing his rivals. Nicolas Bazire had time to produce a celebration crossing the winning line, saluting the crowd with Hooker Berry gaining entry in the Prix d'Amerique Legend Race (G1) at the end of January. The top three are now automatically qualified for the three Classic races in January and February were Hooker Berry, Hussard du Landret (who provided a strong showing) and Etonnant in third. Previous two-time winner of this G2 event, Délia du Pommereux ran well to be fifth ahead of the well-fancied Vivid Wise As who could only manage eighth. This was Hooker Berry's seventh Group Two victory but the first in an open-age race. | |
