by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The 8-year-old chestnut trotter Royal Dream, with owner and breeder Jean Phillipe Dubois, was an easy winner of the Prix d’Amerique, raced Sunday afternoon (Jan. 27) at Vincennes, Paris, France.

Gerard Forni photo

Royal Dream was a winner in the Prix d’Amerique on Sunday.

Jean Philippe Dubois gave his horse a fine trip following the big favorite, Ready Cash, most of the way. But as Franck Nivard, behind Ready Cash, made his move with 600 meters to go, Dubois missed it, but moments later he came loose and around the last corner he was just behind Ready Cash.

Down the stretch, Ready Cash tired and Nivard had to use all his talents to keep Ready Cash from making a break. On the outside, Royal Dream went past Ready Cash to win by two lengths, equaling the race record of 1:55.4 (mile record). Ready Cash, who failed to win his third victory in the Prix d’Amerique, finished second, while rank outsider, Italian bred Main Wise AS, was third. Main Wise AS is sired by Yankee Glide and out of a Sierra Kosmos mare.

This was a first win for Jean Philippe Dubois in this great race, which his father Jean Pierre Dubois had won twice, and his younger brother, Jean Etienne Dubois, once.

Royal Dream is sired by Love You, who is by Coktail Jet, who was the horse Jean Etienne Dubois took his victory with in the Prix d’Amerique.

Royal Dream is not only a race horse. Like many other top French trotters he’s at stud during the springtime and last year he covered 100 mares, which is the maximum number a stallion is allowed to cover in France.

Royal Dream stands for 2,000 + 13,000 Euro; last year he was syndicated for a price of 50,000 Euro per share.

That must be said to be a bargain!

Royal Dream races without a check and carries his head very low; making him very special to look at in a race.