by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Web Correspondent

French breeding was very successful at Solvalla Saturday afternoon (Sept. 30) in the European Championship races for 3-, 4- and 5-year-old trotters with Drole de Jet, Vamp Kronos and Readly Express capturing their respective events.

The main event, The UET Grand Prix was won by French trotter Drole de Jet, driven by Pierre Vercruysse. Drole de Jet was rather unknown internationally until he won the elimination race at Vincennes 10 days ago.

Gerard Forni photo

Drole de Jet wins the UET Grand Prix at Solvalla on Saturday afternoon.

At Solvalla he was in command from the start and although Born in the USA of Norway and Monark Newmen of Sweden came close at the finish line, he managed to win the 1-5/16 mile event in a new record of 1.154f (mile rate).

The purse for the winner was $240,000 which nearly tripled the lifetime earnings of Drole de Jet. The winner is sired by legendary Coktail Jet and was bred by Jean Etienne Dubois.

The two other championships, each with a purse for the winner of $61,500, were won by offspring of the French champion stallion, Ready Cash.

The UET 3-year-old championship was won by the filly, Vamp Kronos, driven by Björn Goop in a very impressive manner. Vamp Kronos swept the field with 500 meters to go and was an very easy winner in 1.56.1f (mile rate). She is a Swedish-bred and is trained by Jerry Riordan, who has high expectations for the filly.

Readly Express won the UET Grand Prix last year and he was the heavy favorite to win the 5-year old championship this year with Jorma Kontio in the bike. He won very easily to collect his 18th victory from 21 starts.

Readly Express will race next in the Swedish Championship at Aby and further down the road he could race in the Prix d’Amerique.