Now the countdown to the Prix d’Amerique begins.
On Sunday afternoon (Nov. 15), the first qualifying race was held at Vincennes for the winter’s biggest harness racing event, the Prix d’Amerique, with 18 horses starting.
For those18 horses – four tickets to the Prix d’Amerique – that’s what’s at stake in Sunday’s Prix de Bretagne at Vincennes.
The four best-placed horses are guaranteed a spot in the main race, which, as tradition dictates, is run on the last Sunday in January.
Most of the French elite are competing – however, the winner of the last two editions of the Prix d’Amerique, Idao de Tillard, as well as the new French star, Jabalpur, are both sitting out, but will start in the next qualifying race, the Prix de Bourgogne on December 7.
The favorite for Sunday’s race is Jushua Tree with Jean Michel Bazire.
The Netherlands
On Friday evening (Nov. 14), the Netherlands’ biggest harness race, the Prijs der Giganten, was held at Victoria Park in Wolvega.
Here, the Italian horse Diva Ek (sired by Trixton) won with her trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro—it was Diva Ek’s first start since her second-place finish in The International Trot at Yonkers two months ago.