A winner on debut at Meadowlands, Delicious U.S. (by Cantab Hall) is Europe’s fastest trotting mare to date. She arrived in Sweden at 4, and on August 14 this year, she trotted a record-breaking 1’08’’6 km rate over 1,640 metres at Bollnäs, unshod and with Orjan Kihlström in the bike. Ever since, she has crossed the wire several times in…
Lots to learn from the Prix du Bourbonnais on Sunday, the second stopover on the road to the 2016 Opodo Prix d’Amérique. Not the same conditions this time compared to the Prix de Bretagne run on November 21. The distance is 150 metres longer over the uphill stretch, and what’s more, the richest will have to concede a 25-metre handicap…
The cold and rain that prevailed on the Paris-Vincennes Racecourse, this Saturday, November 21, did not prevent the audience from attending a race of high quality. The favorite Voltigeur de Myrt could not defend his chances since he was obstructed by an opponent and was then rapidly disqualified. The spanish champion Trebol resolutely took the lead while Up And Quick,…
The Prix de Bretagne will kick off the first of 6 #opodoraces this Saturday 21st of November. Run over 2,700 metres on Vincennes’ mythical outside track, 14 runners will be in the line-up, including the first three past the post in the 2015 Prix d’Amérique, namely Up and Quick, Voltigeur de Myrt and Timoko. While Up and Quick will be…
When Jean-Marie Bazire drove Up And Quick to victory in the 2015 Opodo Prix d’Amérique last January, it was not only a first win for the trotter in the world’s most prestigious harness race, but also for his father Buvetier d’Aunou as stallion, trainer Franck Leblanc and owner Philippe Delon. Not seen since his win in the marathon Grand Prix…
Paris-Vincennes’ winter festival has already started since a month, but is getting into a crucial phase with the Prix de Bretagne, the first of six #opodoraces and the first qualifier leading to the Prix d’Amérique Opodo raced on January 31st, 2016. The winter festival and the Prix d’Amérique Opodo in particular can be considered as an action-packed serial: we know…
Up And Quick and Jean-Michel Bazire have just magnificently landed the 2015 Prix d’Amérique Opodo. The hot Big Race favourites both lived up to their reputation. Jean-Michel Bazire drove a faultless race and Up And Quick responded perfectly. Mosaique Face set off at a very stiff pace in the early phase while the others made tactical moves mid-field to get…
In 4 hours the 94th edition of the Prix d’Amerique Opodo will be underway. It’s the Big Day at last for the International 18-runner field. The weather conditions are perfect. Cold but bright and no rain forecasted. The VIPs have started arriving and the crowds gave been getting thicker since the doors opened at 11 am this morning. No non-runners…
Jean-Marie Bazire’s exceptional career has always had the Prix d’Amérique as backdrop. When he landed his first Prix d’Amerique back in January 1999 on Jimmy Takter’s US champion mare Moni Maker, he had just lifted his first 1998 Golden Sulky title (Sulky d’Or). While finishing just 10th in 2000, the new millennium was nonetheless one to remember for the man…