2018 Prix d'Amérique

January 28, 2018 - Trotting, 2.700 meters, Paris-Vincennes

Preview: January 26, 2018

An unique chance to win the world's most important trotting race a third time in a row opens for Bold Eagle at the 2018 Prix d´Amérique on January 28. It will be a lot harder for him to defend his title this time, especially as there are modest doubts about his form. His most dangerous rivals come from Sweden: His younger half-brother Readly Express and European record holder Propulsion. Also Bold Eagle's compatriot Bird Parker staked out a claim with two recent victories. The 2018 holding of the Prix d´Amérique seems to be one of the most balanced in a long time.

Bold Eagle won the 2016 and 2017 Prix d’Amérique easily, he was considered almost unbeatable for quite a while. His brilliance got a first scratch when he tried to win the 'Sprint World Cup' on the tight racetrack at Solvalla in May, where he finished only fourth in the 2017 Elitloppet. Back home in France he then lost the European Trotting Masters Final under heavy rain, finished 'only' runner-up also in the last three Amérique preparation races, the so called 'B-races'. This defeats should not be overvalued, Bold Eagle has to be in top form not before January 28, still his nimbus of invincibility has been gone. The unusual high odds difference at the bookmakers shows how difficult it is to judge the defending champion (see odds comparison).

Readly Express, like Bold Eagle a son of the two-time Amérique winner Ready Cash, has a race record that reminds on his older half brother: 20 victories from 24 starts. He won the Svenskt Trav Kriterium as a three-year-old, the Swedish Trav-Derby as a four-year-old, the Jubileumspokalen and the Svenskt Mästerskap against older opponents this year. On Christmas Eve he showed that he has no problems with the wide racecourse at Paris-Vincennes when won the Prix Ténor de Baune by four length. It was the first time he was driven by the twelve times Swedish champion Björn Goop. Readly Express then faced the world's best trotters in the Prix de Belgique on January 14. After a very bad start and a position at the end of the field, he displayed tremendous speed, got only narrowly beaten by Bird Parker and Bold Eagle. A remarkable performance, although this third place was his worst placement in his career.

Propulsion defeated Bold Eagle in the Prix de Bourgogne (2,100 m) on New Year's Eve. Considering that the son of Muscle Hill did surely not give all at this wire-to-wire victory, we can expect more to come at the Prix d’Amérique, despite the distance will then be 2,700 meters then. Trainer Daniel Redén said after the 'Bourgogne', his charge would already be in better form than he was when finished fourth in last year's Amérique, therefore he did not run him in the Prix de Belgique. Propulsion, who came from the United States to Sweden in 2015, run the quickest time ever clocked in Europe (1:08,1) when won the Hugo Åbergs Memorial last July.

Bird Parker, another son of Ready Cash, just jumped among the favourites with two terrific victories. He had often missed success due to his bad starts, but was quick up in the Prix du Bourbonnais and left the strong field behind. Most recently in the Prix de Belgique he was underestimated once again, and again he won from the front ahead of Bold Eagle and Readly Express. In contrast to most of his rivals he had no racing break and went to the limit at both victories. But even though he wasted quite some energy, he must be on the short list in that form.

Bélina Josselyn, runner-up in the 2017 Prix d’Amérique, had a five month lay-off ahead of her 2018 Amérique campaign. She had no moments in any of the four 'B-races', got even disqualified in the Prix de Belgique. Quite impossible to judge her recent form. Still it could be a big mistake to undervalue the daughter of Love You, who is trained and driven by 19 times French champion Jean-Michel Bazire.

Lionel, third in last year's Amérique, ended a racing break with a strong fifth place in the Prix du Bourbonnais on December 10. Afterwards he was driven by his owner Gøran Antonsen in the Prix de Bourgogne and Prix de Belgique, who did not go to the limit, which makes an assessment of Lionel's form difficult. The Norwegian colt had given Bold Eagle one of only two defeats in the year 2016, when he beat him over 4,150 meters at the Prix de Paris.

Ringostarr Treb gained his Amérique ticket with a third place in the Prix du Bourbonnais and proved once again that he can keep up with the best trotters of the world. The small Italian had beaten Propulsion in the Sundsvall Open Trot in August, than clearly won the Prijs der Giganten in Wolvega before he was disqualified due to a doubtful decision. In the above mentioned Hugo Åbergs Memorial he had run a 1:08,2.

Briac Dark was one of the biggest surprises in last year’s Prix d'Amérique where he finished fifth as 57:1 outsider. Following a second place in the Prix de Paris (4.150 meters), he had to be sidelined for nine month due to health problems. Trainer Thierry Duvaldestin actually had the Prix de Paris in mind for him, but as Briac Dark surprised with a third place in the Prix de Bourgogne on New Year's Eve, he will now run the Amérique again.

Carat Williams is trained by Sébastien Guarato, who believes that his charge can make it under the first five in the Prix d'Amérique. His performances in the 'B-races' did not really underline that view, still the small colt with the big heart should not get written off.

Sébastien Guarato even has three more horses in the 2018 Prix d’Amérique:
Valko Jenilat has not the very best turn of foot, but he can hold high speed for a long time. The eight year old might get at the front of the field to make the pace for Bold Eagle.
Billie de Montfort qualified with a second place in the Prix de Bretagne, she attracted attention again when finished fourth in the Prix de Bourgogne.
Booster Winner participated in all four 'B-races', never finished better then eighth tough. His last victory took place back in 2015, after all he managed a strong seventh place in the last year's Amérique.

Charly du Noyer also gained his ticket in the Prix de Bretagne. On his list are victories in the Critérium des 3 Ans and Critérium des 4 Ans, this year he finished runner-up behind Carat Williams in the Critérium des 5 Ans. His third place in the Prix Ténor de Baune is nothing to sneeze at, still he will be clear underdog in the Prix d'Amérique.

Wild Honey is the second horse from the Daniel Redén stable that originally came from the United States. The six year old mare belonged to the favourites in last year's Prix d'Amérique, but got disqualified there. Her most recent performances were not really promising, therefore bookmakers have her on high odds.

Timone Ek won the Gran Premio della Lotteria last year ahead of horses like Timoko or Ringostarr Treb. He did not really shine outside Italy though and will be an obvious outsider in his first Amérique.

Tony Gio is another Italian stallion, who will be unable to cope with his rivals at the 2018 Amérique, even though he gained experience on several European tracks.

Voltigeur De Myrt won fiften races and 1,4 million Euro in his life. Three times he run the Prix d’Amérique, landed a total surprise when came runner-up in the 2015 edition with an odd of 99:1. This winter he took part in three of four 'B-races' this. Bad results showed, he will not be able to repeat his best moment in life.

Oasis B completed 82 races in his career, at the age of ten he will now run his third and last Prix d’Amérique. The globetrotter and former Gran Premio della Lotteria winner had managed a third place as 62:1 outsider in the 2016 Prix d’Amérique. Last October he finished third in the United States at the International Trot, but run only one race since. The son of Toss Out will be clear outsider, but may be he can surprise again due to his immense experience.