The one million euros Grand Prix d’Amerique, run at Vincennes, Paris on Sunday afternoon, was a triumph for French breeding as the first three placegetters were all bred in the Republic.
Davidson Du Pont, who won the legendary race at his fourth attempt, was sired by Pacha du Pont, a member of the Star’s Pride sireline.
The runner-up Galius is by the champion French stallion Love You, while the third placegetter, Flamme Du Goutier, is a daughter of Ready Cash, the two-time winner of the Prix d’Amerique.
Davidson du Pont, who finished fourth in 2019 and second in 2020 and 2021 to Face Time Bourbon, was driven by his trainer, the 21 year-old Nicolas Bazire, a son of champion French conditioner Jean Michel Bazire.
The nine-year-old entire rated 1:54.2 for the 2700 metre trip.
It was the 17th lifetime success and boosted his stake tally to beyond the two million euros plateau.
The runner-up Galius, who made most of the running and was beaten a nose, is trained by Severine Raymond, the first woman ever to prepare a Prix d’Amerique runner.
Face Time Bourbon, the heavy pre-post favourite, suffered a hoof injury on the eve of the race and was scratched and retired. Interestingly, a stallion share in Face Time Bourbon brought the top price of 170,000 euros at the annual Prix d’Amerique sale at Deauville.
The share allows one breeding each year in France, where a stallion is limited to 100 mares a year.
The highest priced horse at the sale was the broodmare Cere Josselyn, in foal to Ready Cash, who was garnered by Danish interests for 130,000 euros.
The average price for the sale was 20,546 euros, up 3.5 percent from last year.
