by Karsten Bønsdorf

With a superb program of nine races the prestigious winter meeting at Europe’s biggest racetrack, Vincennes in Paris, France came to an end Saturday afternoon.

The highlight of the day was the Prix de Selection with a total purse of $320,000, a race for 4-5- 6-year-old trotters over the classic distance of 1 11/16 mile – just like in the Prix d ‘Amerique.

In this race the 4-year-old trotters are allowed to race with a 50 meter advantage.

Until this year the distance in the race has been 2200 meters, but it had been very seldom that the 5-and 6-year-old trotters had been capable of catching the 4-year-olds racing from 2150 meters. Therefore the distance was altered.

Mark Kendell

Saxo de Vandel with Eric Raffin

4-year-old Severino, driven by Christian Bigeon, went into the race as the heavy favorite, but made a break after the first quarter and was disqualified.

Instead the race became an easy task for second favorite, Saxo de Vandel with Eric Raffin in the bike.
Saxo de Vandel is a very consistent trotter, and this was his second Group 1 race within the last six months. The purse for the winner was $160,000.

Saxo de Vandel is sired by Coktail Jet, who had a big winner last Sunday too, in The Best Madrik. The dam of Saxo de Vandel is sired by Cezio Josselyn – he by Armbro Goa.

Thierry Duvaldestin is the trainer of Saxo de Vandel – and in the bike as usual was the very talented Eric Raffin, who this year has won 17 races in the bike and 14 under saddle.

Some of the best elder trotters met in the Prix de l’Union Europenne over 1 7/8 mile with a purse for the winner of $110,000.

The 9-year-old gelding, Nelumbo with trainer-driver Franck Blandin in the bike, won followed by stable mate, Obelo Darche with Bernard Piton – Perlando with Jos. Verbeeck was second past the post, but was disqualified and placed last for interference down the stretch.