Nuncio is a step closer to a trip to Paris
November 5, 2017,by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent
The dream of racing Nuncio in the Prix d’Amerique is still alive for owner/trainer Stefan Melander. After a disappointing race a fortnight ago, Nuncio, driven by Stefan Melander, won the Gold Division Saturday afternoon (Nov. 4) at Bergsaker.
Nuncio stopped race favorite Tobin Kronos, driven by Orjan Kihlström, to win the 1-5/16th mile event in 1:55.4f (mile rate).
“It was very important that he raced well today,” Melander said after the race. “Nuncio won easy and he had a lot of power left in the tank past the post.”
In Paris the prestigious Winter meeting took off Thursday afternoon, where the main event was the Prix de Cevennes, raced over the 1-11/16th mile distance (just as the Prix d’Amerique) and with a total purse of $127,000.
The 8-year-old Valko Jenilat, driven by Eric Raffin, won very easily and became French trotting’s newest millionaire as the winner’s purse of $57,500 took his lifetime earnings over $1 million.
Valko Jenilat is trained by Sebastian Guarato, and will be aimed for the Prix d’Amerique. Guarato is also the trainer of the two-time winner of the Prix d’Amerique, Bold Eagle.