Paris – In a race marked by constant lead changes, outsider Hokkaido Jiel and driver Franck Nivard appeared in the final stages and captured the victory in Sunday’s (Jan. 25) Prix d’Amérique, worth €450,000.
There was little confidence beforehand in the 9‑year‑old Hokkaido Jiel (sired by Brillantissime – he by Ready Cash), owned and bred by Ecurie Jiel and trained by Jean‑Luc Dersoir. To make matters worse, the horse’s regular driver, David Thomain, had opted off Hokkaido Jiel to drive Koctel du Dain in the Prix d’Amérique. Instead, the experienced Franck Nivard, 46, got the call. He has won the Prix d’Amérique five times and has long been among France’s elite drivers.
Hokkaido Jiel went off at 37‑1, and for once the start of the 2,700‑meter event was off on the first attempt. The favorite, Iroise de la Noe, broke stride after just 100 meters. After several lead changes, second choice Go On Boy, trained and driven by Romain Derieux, took command with half a mile to go. On his outside sat his half‑brother Josh Power with Sebastian Ernault, and when the pair opened up a gap with 500 meters remaining, a family duel seemed imminent. But no — Go On Boy tired, dropped back, and broke stride entering the stretch.
Josh Power now looked like the winner, but he came under attack from Sweden’s Epic Kronos with Paul Philippe Ploquin, while on the outside Italy’s Frank Gio, with Matthieu Abrivard, launched their bid. All of them, however, had to watch Hokkaido Jiel and Franck Nivard slip through on the inside, find a perfect opening, and get up just in time to win in 1:54.4 (mile rate) – a neck in front of Josh Power, with Epic Kronos finishing third.
It was Hokkaido Jiel’s first victory since June 2023. He finished second to Idao de Tillard in the 2024 Prix d’Amérique, but spent much of 2025 sidelined with injury before returning for the Winter Meeting. With the €450,000 winner’s share, Hokkaido Jiel is now a millionaire.
The French Luck family, who operate Ecurie Luck and give all their horses the “Jiel” suffix, currently have 37 horses in training with their private trainer, Jean‑Luc Dersoir. Today’s victory marks the biggest triumph for both owner and trainer after two previous runner‑up finishes — with Hokkaido Jiel in 2024 and Ukir de Jemma in 1993 – however, the latter trained by Philippe Allaire.