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 first position, racing either shod or not. If she was disqualified on November 25 at Solvalla, she remains a champion, capable to manage all distances. But How will she manage on the 2,850 metres of the Parisian track? Her participation in the Prix d’Amérique Opodo will depend on Sunday’s result, according to the mare’s surroundings.
Born and bred in Connecticut, at Lindy Farms, Delicious U.S. is trained by Daniel Redén (the trainer of Call Me Keeper who won twice last winter at Vincennes). Just to mention that the man knows the track quite well. His champion mare has earned €602,356 and has won 12 races and 5 places out of 21 career attempts.
Her driver, Orjan Kihlström (in picture – nicknamed “iceman” in Sweden) also knows the course very well. Aged 53 and a winner of over 5,700 races, at Vincennes he won the Prix de France in 2004 and 2005 with Naglo, the Prix de Paris in 2011 with Maharajah, not to mention the Prix d’Amérique in 2014 with the latter. In his home country, he has also won the Elitloppet in 2003, with From Above ; a great career indeed!
