Hohneck tests Hip Hop Haufor in the

Paris-Vincennes, Saturday 3 December: the first of three Group 2 tests this afternoon at the Plateau de Gravelle, the Prix Doynel de Saint-Quentin (2nd race/14.33pm/120,000 euros/2850m) is aimed at five-year-old horses competing in front of the sulky.

Hohneck (Francois Lagadeuc), trained by Philippe Allaire, clearly stands out by win total, but after a period of winlessness and a recent defeat in the Prix Marcel Laurent (Group 2), his position as favourite may be doubted. Happy Valley (Jean-Philippe Monclin) and Heraut d`Armes (Jean-Michel Bazire) finished ahead of Hohneck in that match, which was no surprise at least in the case of the latter, as the Bazire protégé already snatched victory away from the millionaire in the European Championships for five-year-olds (Group 1). Hip Hop Haufor (Christian Bigeon) set a sign for the following Prix de Belgique (Group 2) in third place, not far from the two fastest, which he won safely in the final sprint. Bleff Dipa (Alexandre Abrivard) is making his second appearance in the winter meeting. His best result so far was fourth place in the Critérium Continental (Group 1) behind the victorious Hohneck.