With plenty of doubters over the great Bold Eagle heading in to the Prix d’Amerique, including me, the pressure was on the champion more than ever but he delivered in reassuring fashion.
The Group 2 Grand Prix de Bourgogne was the third of the four “B” trials for the Prix d’Amérique and the shortest of them being over the 2100 metres from behind the mobile.
Question marks aplenty were over Bold Eagle after having every chance in the first trial in November before weakening very badly three weeks ago, in what was arguably a career worst run.
But despite not going off the favourite, the biased French punters retained their faith sending him off the 3.9 second favourite behind defending Prix d’Amérique winner and Swedish champion Readly Express, who was well supported from 4.2 into 3.2.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=fLLu14n2iqU
From gate eight, one from the outside of the front row, Bold Eagle showed blinding gate speed to be able to cross Uza Josselyn, one of Europe’s fastest mares, with ease before grabbing hold on the first turn and relinquishing the lead to Readly Express who eased his way through the early stages. The first 400 metres was around 26.8 seconds.
The speed then went right out of the race and it was dominated by the front markers.
Readly Express led them in and Bold Eagle was able to shove into the clear after Cash Gamble, who was towards his outside, broke. He let down with a powerful run and looked like the real Bold Eagle in the last 200 metres to draw clear from Readly Express, who was far from disgraced and as advertised beforehand will come right on with the run.
Uza Josselyn poked through for third narrowly ahead of Carat Williams and Briac Dark, with Bélina Josselyn never able to get into the race but doing her best work late in a mile rate of a respectful enough 1:55.5 for the 2100-metre sprint trip, with quarters of the final mile showing 28.3, 31.6, 29.7 and 27.6 and a last mile of 1:57.3 with a quick lead time of 33.4.
As evidenced just after the Group Two feature, trainer Sébastien Guarato was very relieved.
“He will miss the Prix de Belgique (January 13) and go straight to the Prix d’Amérique,” said Guarato.
“Franck (Nivard, driver) and I had a plan to get to the front and it all went perfectly. I’m happy he has set the record straight, he has never disappointed over this distance and he has lost none of his fighting desire.
“He knows how to finish quickly and that is what we will have to rely on in the Prix d’Amérique.
“We are happy that he has set the record straight,” said usual pilot Franck Nivard. “Last start I made my move a little early but here at Vincennes over the 2100 metres he has rarely disappointed and he was good.
“He showed great speed, I had a good run, then when Cash Gamble made the mistake I could get out and he sprinted well.”
Last week, Vincennes hosted two other trials for the Prix d’Amérique with the winner getting automatic entry to the European showpiece.
The Prix Ténor de Baune at Group Two level for the five-year-olds was won by the Jean-Michael Bazire trained and driven Looking Superb, who knocked off the stablemate Davidson du Pont, the Prix de Bretagne victor.
Prix du Bourbonnais winner Délia du Pommereux galloped in the home straight when a big chance. Global Trustworthy for the Readly Express team of Björn Goop and Timo Nurmos was also disqualified after leading, despite being second past the post.
The winner Looking Superb was having his hardest run to date and only his second start for Bazire, but in a slowly run race was able to get off the leader’s back at the top of the straight and prove too good. Stablemate Davidson du Pont ran an eye catching second in a mile rate of 1:57.9.
The Group 1 Critérium Continental for the four-year-olds over the 2100 metres from behind the mobile is one of Europe’s premier races for the age bracket and was won by Eridan, who was able to have a soft run and get through the field left, right and centre in the last 500 metres and beat Italian Vitruvio with Earl Simon third in 1:53.
In other Prix d’Amérique news, Propulsion suffered a shock defeat as 1/10 on favourite at the hands of veteran On Track Piraten on Saturday night at Romme in Sweden in a race one level below group racing.
Trainer Daniel Reden has since come out and said the horse hadn’t eaten his feed at all and was suffering a fever, which puts his participation in the big one in doubt.
Australasian bred winners in the United States of America in the last week are featured below.
Sunday 23 December 2018 – Pompano Park
Race 4 (26.6, 27.8, 28.6, 31, 1:54)
1st Dynamite Dude
Race 7 (26.8, 28.8, 28.6, 27.6, 1:51.8)
1st (Our) Waikiki Beach
Wednesday 26 December 2018 – Monticello Raceway
Race 4 (27.8, 30.2, 30.4, 29.8, 1:58.2)
1st Media Queen
Race 8 (28.2, 30.6, 30, 28.8, 1:57.6)
1st Simple Saver
Race 10 (28, 30.2, 29.2, 30.4, 1:57.8)
1st Kamwood Laughter
Friday 28 December 2018 – Freehold Raceway
Race 2 (28.4, 29.8, 29, 28.8, 1:56)
1st Lynbar Rose
Race 7 (27.6, 30.4, 29, 29.4, 1:56.4)
1st Dongal Rundlscrk
Saturday 29 December 2018 – Meadowlands
Race 8 (28, 28, 27.8, 27.6, 1:51.4)
1st Soho Wallstreet
8th Warminster
Race 9 (26.8, 27.8, 28, 28.2, 1:50.8)
1st Messi
4th Barimah
