The greatest race in the harness racing world, the Prix D’Amerique, will take place for the 98th time this Sunday at Vincennes, ‘the temple of trotting’, and the ‘holy grail’ looks to be a race of a few chances.
The Group 1, worth 900,000 euros, is over the classic French distance of 2700 metres and features some great champions of the era, many of whom have had questions thrown at them that sees the so-called pretenders of the last few years a chance to stamp their authority.
That is what the market believes, with Bélina Josselyn an equal favourite with Readly Express at $3.75, Bold Eagle at $4 and Propulsion at $6.
Bélina Josselyn has always been a few lengths off the likes of Bold Eagle, Readly Express and Propulsion, but has been able to give them a run for their money on occasions, including when defeating Bold Eagle and Propulsion in the Group 1 Grand Prix de France over 2100 metres in February last year and nearly pinching the 2017 Prix d’Amérique off Bold Eagle.
Readly Express has been targeted for this and is expected to be at his brilliant best to retain his title, but didn’t really run through the line last start.
Bold Eagle is trying to make it three wins in the race after winning in 2016 and 2017 and, after doubts early in the winter, he was able to get back into the winners’ circle last start in the Prix de Bourgogne, which surely was a positive step in the right direction.
Propulsion has been an unlucky horse throughout his career, having had no luck in last year’s Elitloppet final and running of this race, and he comes to this race off a setback.
Davidson du Pont and Délia du Pommereux have both won feature trial races for the race and Bird Parker can never be forgotten about from an each-way perspective.
Below is my preview of the 18 runners that will race in the 2019 Prix d’Amérique, you can catch the action on Sky Racing 1 on Sunday night with Races 1 to 7 being shown. The feature is due at 2:05AM AEST.
1: LOOKING SUPERB ($55): Norwegian bred who only joined ‘the king of trotting’, Jean-Michel Bazire, at the start of the winter festival. He was able to claim the 5YO trial (those horses now being six years old) the G2 Prix Ténor de Baune on December 23, beating Global Trustworthy, Davidson du Pont and Délia du Pommereux. He Had a nice run on that occasion behind the leader before getting out at the top of the straight and sprinting hard. Disqualified last start, if you go on his G2 victory he looks one of the best of his age group but still has work to do to catch up on the big guns, especially considering he has only won four from 22 starts. This is only his fourth start in France for Bazire.
2: BAHIA QUESNOT ($121): She was able to score in a provincial G3 down at Cagnes-Sur-Mer three starts ago and then run the race of her life when third past the post (officially second) in the G2 Grand Prix de Belgique two weeks ago. It was the final trial race and she surprised everyone and qualified for the big one, winning despite being three wide from last in the final 1000 metres, followed up by Readly Express, who she ran away from him. It will be a pretty big moment for trainer/driver Junior Guelpa and owner Florence Scalici. Despite not doing anything that would say she is good enough to be in the race before last start, her run two weeks ago was massive and she could be fighting out the minor placings if she produced that form again, but all the big guns should be at their best this time. She almost beat Europe’s best gelding Aubrion du Gers in a G2 in December 2016, so she knows how to pull off surprises. She isn’t the worst.
3: ERIDAN ($75): Winner of one of the championship races for four-year-olds in December, the G1 Critérium Continental, when able to charge at them late and earn automatic invitation to the championship. Hit the line well in the Belgique two weeks ago and if he gets a good pace to run at from a good position he should be able to get into the finish. Only 15 five-year-olds have won the race with Offshore Dream (2007) and Bold Eagle (2016) the only two this century. It would be fair to say, while he is a good horse, he is no champion, like those two horses previously mentioned.
4: DAVIDSON DU PONT ($17): Has rapidly progressed through the ranks in France in the last 12 months, winning a feature five-year-old Group 2 12 months ago and progressing to three G1 victories last season, including the French 5YO Championship. But his career best performance was when winning the G2 Grand Prix de Bretagne, first of the trial races, in November when three wide in the last 1000 metres with Bold Eagle on his back. He proved too tough for the opposition. Has since been driven quietly, already being qualified for this, but flew home for second in the G2 5YO trial in December behind stablemate Looking Superb and was given a quiet time in the Belgique two weeks ago when working to the line nicely. Prepared by the master Jean-Michel Bazire, who opts to drive Bélina Josselyn, but that doesn’t mean this horse isn’t a big chance.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=I9_x9hHNqWw
5: DÉLIA DU POMMEREUX ($26): Winner of the second trial race, the Prix du Bourbonnais. Before that she had caught the eye when a G2 winner over Earl Simon and Davidson du Pont and flying home for second in the Bretagne behind Davidson du Pont. She then produced a barnstorming finish to win the Bourbonnais, before being disqualified in Prix Tenor de Baune as a 2.2 favourite, when there with a big chance at the top of the straight. Was OK in the Belgique two weeks ago. Obviously fantastic horse for connections, but wouldn’t be my top pick of the six-year-olds despite being a very good horse in her own right. Can get into the finish though.
6: CHARLY DU NOYER ($91): Good horse on his day but hasn’t been his day for a long time. Lucky to be in the field. Former G1 winner of the 3YO and 4YO Championship but just not in form. Disqualified 12 months ago. Nothing to suggest he will get back to his best. Has run all but last in all four “B” trial races.
7: URLO DEI VENTI ($34): Speedy Italian that won the G3 race on the Saturday 12 months ago. Good second in the feature G1 of the season in Italy last May, similar series to the Elitloppet, and then bolted in the feature of the season in Norway, the G1 Oslo Grand Prix, when going straight to the front and never seeing another horse. He went like a jet and was subsequently disqualified due to a positive swab. Hasn’t really been the same since, although was able to win two starts ago, but will he be at his best over 2700 metres? Never been further than 2460 metres and that was last start, naturally trialling for this, when fourth in Italy.
8: UZA JOSSELYN ($61): Probably better over shorter trips but definitely more than capable over this distance. Finished second (third past the post) in the G1 Oslo Grand Prix and to Bold Eagle in a Vincennes G1 last June and then won a G2 at Enghien over 1609 metres when breaking the French record in 1:50.6. Good third behind Bold Eagle and Readly Express over 2100 metres in December. Prix de France in two weeks will suit her better but hit the line very strongly two weeks ago in the Belgique.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=a8VkLcQQXrA
9: CARAT WILLIAMS ($61): Disqualified in this in 2017 but has been very consistent in all 4 “B” trial races, despite not having won since November 2017. Fifth in the Bretagne when three wide to the breeze in the last 1000 metres, flashed home for fourth in the Bourbonnais from last at the top of the straight, was the first horse home that never raced on the pegs in the Bourgogne and finished fourth past the post in the Belgique, working to the lead before taking a trail. Can finish top half of the field without threatening the big guns for sure.
10: VALKO JENILAT ($151): Won the Bretagne in 2017 narrowly but not racing as well and consistently as what he once was. Ninth in 2018
11: TRADERS ($51): Actually beat Bold Eagle in a G2 in November 2016. More a mounted horse these days and won the mounted equivalent of this last year before finishing second to Bilibili in this year’s running last week after leading them up at fast sectionals. Not often horses do the double and run in both the Prix de Cornulier and this but he has decided to give it a crack. Whilst on the quick back-up he did beat Carat Williams impressively in a G3 in October. If at his best he can finish top half of the field. Can run time don’t forget.
12: BÉLINA JOSSELYN ($3.75): Nearly pinched the 2017 version away from Bold Eagle when getting a break on him on the turn before being reeled down by the champion to finish a game second and then fourth last year before winning the Prix de France. Has always been a fantastic mare that is rated just below the absolute champions. Has produced numerous big runs in her career and this winter flew home for a narrow second in the Bourbonnais, never really got into the Bourgogne but hit the line hard and had a lovely run in the Belgique last time, but the way she charged through the line against the bit was very impressive. Was then sensationally disqualified under the French rules for checking a beaten Valko Jenilat at the 200 metres, who then subsequently galloped. Forgetting that, she is too short considering she has always been considered a few lengths off the Bold Eagles et cetara, but if she got lucky and ran to form they will definitely know she is there.
13: LIONEL ($75): Won the drama-filled heat of the Elitloppet in May and, whilst maybe not going as good as he once was, he was a terrific narrow second in the G1 Yonkers International in October. Was only fourth last start though. Disqualified in this in 2016 and 2018 but ran third in 2017.
14: BILLIE DE MONTFORT ($151): Been a good money spinner for connections over the years and she is one of only four horses in the field to have run in the Prix d’Amérique and Elitloppet final. Hasn’t done much in the two trials but. Eighth last year.
15: READLY EXPRESS ($3.75): Last year’s champion and one of the top horses in the world. The winner of 23 from 32 starts has only won two races from seven starts since his career high 12 months ago and, after coming into last year’s race in flying colours, is all but that (at least in my eyes) this year. He was able to score first-up from the 2018 Prix d’Amérique with a fantastic G2 victory in Sweden in a brilliant 1:52.6 over 2140 metres. He was then a pimple second to Propulsion in a 3140 metre Group 1. He then had health issues when only fifth in a G1 before a huge third in the European Championship race at Östersund behind Propulsion, who posted him three wide for almost the trip. He then comfortably won a G2 race before heading to France where he had an easy lead in the Bourgogne before Bold Eagle ran him down after sitting on his back, after Bold Eagle had to do much more work than Readly Express to get the lead early. And then, while he was already qualified for the Prix d’Amérique and wasn’t expected to be near his best, I was very disappointed with the run in the Prix de Belgique two weeks ago. Unlike the Belgique in 2018 he failed to run on or hit the line with any zest and was comfortably held by rivals. I am against him this year, there is a probably a good chance he will make a monkey of me, but I have been a bit disappointed with his results since winning here last year. However, targeted for this for a long time.
16: BIRD PARKER ($17): Arguably the Mr. Consistency of French trotting. Second past the post in the Belgique before given back to back wins in the race after the disqualification of Bélina Josselyn. Seventh in 2016 before 13th in 2017 and sixth in 2018 after leading up. He never runs a bad race and you can be more than confident he will be in the finish and, with some luck, may even go close to winning. Has been good in all the “B” trials and stays all day.
17: PROPULSION ($6): Has been one of the top performers in Europe over the last few years finishing fourth here in 2017 and third last year and a bit unlucky on both occasions. Has won 24 from 44 starts and while beating Readly Express in epic G1s during the summer in Sweden he often finds one or two better in the season-defining races like these, although he did win the European Championship in September. Problem is he was beaten last time as a money-back-favourite in Sweden and was all but ruled out of this race with an injury before trainer Daniel Redén made the decision to come to France despite being rushed.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=FWJlDgvC1KM
18: BOLD EAGLE ($4): Champion horse that is the winner of more than 4,000,000 euros in prizemoney and 43 wins from 58 starts, including this race twice in 2016 and 2017 and a gallant second to Readly Express last year, when not right throughout the entire winter. He was very disappointing in the Bretagne and Bourbonnais earlier in the winter when having every possible chance in the former after a cart-up into it, but in the latter did plenty of work late, when going uphill, and weakened. Last start in the 2100-metre trial was a real step in the right direction. He blasted off the mobile and worked very hard to go to the lead and then took the sit to Readly Express near the 1600 metres. He was able to get into the clear at the top of the straight and run straight past Readly Express, who had every chance and has since disappointed. People have made the comment regarding how he is better over short trips these days and it is staggering that he has only won two races over this distance range or further since his victory here in 2017. So that fact may very well be true and while I assume he will be driven quietly for the last run I think there is a chance he is back to his best. It is one of the more open Prix d’Amérique’s in many years, but I think he is the one to beat in a race where luck will be vital.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=fLLu14n2iqU
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
(18) BOLD EAGLE – (12) BÉLINA JOSSELYN – (4) DAVIDSON DU PONT – (16) BIRD PARKER – (15) READLY EXPRESS – (17) PROPULSION – (13) LIONEL – (9) CARAT WILLIAMS – (11) TRADERS – (2) BAHIA QUESNOT – (5) DÉLIA DU POMMEREUX – (1) LOOKING SUPERB – (8) UZA JOSSELYN – (3) ERIDAN – (14) BILLIE DE MONTFORT – (10) VALKO JENILAT – (7) URLO DEI VENTI – (6) CHARLY DU NOYER
