This Sunday (March 9), in France’s premier mile race, the Grand Critérium de Vitesse de la Côte d’Azur, held at Cagnes-sur-Mer, Alrajah One, with Alessandro Gocciadoro, will be among the participants.
After winning the Italian Derby Italiano del Trotto, Alrajah One was sent to trainer Åke Svanstedt in 2022. In the States, the horse achieved three victories in as many starts in 2022 — the Crawford Farms Open Trot, the John Cashman Memorial, and the Spirit of Massachusetts.
The following year, Alrajah One secured two wins in five starts, including the Maple Leaf Trot and the Allerage Trot, before concluding his American career with a sixth in the FanDuel on Nov. 25, 2023.
That same year, Alrajah One covered 17 mares in New Jersey, resulting in 11 foals.
The horse then returned to Italy, where he stood as a stallion in 2024.
After the breeding season, Alrajah One was trained for a comeback, which will take place this Sunday at Cagnes-sur-Mer.
Not only will Alrajah One make his return in this race, but so will French trotter Etonnant, with Anthony Barrier, who only started once last year due to illness.
The starting list is as follows: 1 mile – total purse €200,000.
- Go On Boy (Password) – Romain Derieux
- Alrajah One (Maharajah) – Gabriele Gelormini – Marco Azzaroni
- Emeraude de Bais (Repeat Love) – Franck Nivard – Benjamin Goetz
- Ampia Mede Sm (Ganymede) – Vincenzo d’Alessandro Jr. – Erik Bondo
- Edy Girifalco Gio (Victor Gio) – Santo Mollo – Alessandro Gocciadoro
- Etonnant (Timoko) – Anthony Barrier – Richard Westerink
- Vernissage Grif (Varenne) – Alessandro Gocciadoro
- Fakir Merité (Uaukir) – Nicolas Ensch
- Great of Madrik (Jag de Bellouet) – Christophe Martens – Henk Grift
- Dylan Dog Font (Ringostarr Treb) – Theo Briand – Marco Azzaroni
- Dali Prav (Donato Hanover) – Rene Legati – Alessandro Gocciadoro
- Knockonwood (Ready Cash) – David Bekaert – Romain Christian Larue