Two weeks ahead of the Opodo Prix d’Amérique, the Prix de Belgique is the final qualifier before the legendary harness event on the last Sunday of January. While some are already sure to qualify as they make their final adjustments, for some others it will be their final opportunity to stamp their ticket for the Big Race.
Prix de Bretagne, Prix du Bourbonnais, Prix de Bourgogne, Critérium Continental, Prix de Ténor de Baune… Just one left to go, Sunday’s upcoming Prix de Belgique, the last of the six-race #OpodoRaces series. Those lacking in earnings will be bidding to qualify on points. Prix de Bourgogne runner-up Amiral Sacha is one of them who will have to finish in the shake-up on Sunday to ensure a place in the Big Race in two weeks’ time. It’s the same story for Robert Bergh’s Kadett C.D who so far has won ‘only’ 18,200 euros since January 1st, 2015, nearly €14,000 off the €31,000 required.
So while the Prix de Belgique is decisive for some, others like Opodo Prix d’Amérique title-holder Up And Quick will be fine tuning their engines. Like Mosaïque Face, Franck Leblanc’s charge will have to concede a 25-metre handicap. Quite a challenge, considering no trotter has achieved the feat over the last 10 years. Nevertheless, Up And Quick’s connections will probably not be unduly worried. Fourth in last year’s edition, the son of Buvetier d’Aunou sailed home two weeks later in the 2015 Opodo Prix d’Amérique. The last trotter to have achieved the Prix de Belgique/Prix d’Amérique double dates back ages… Queen L in 1993.
As is often the case, this year’s Prix de Belgique will have a strong European look about it. In their quest for the Opodo Prix d’Amérique, the visitors are starting to take up temporary residence in France and consider the last of the 4 ‘Bs’ an excellent springboard. There will be 8 foreign raiders in the 16-runner field, including Norway’s Support Justice. Teaming up with Eric Raffin on Sunday, the 7yo was really impressive on his sole French bid when landing the 2014 Championnat Européen des 5 ans. Along with Lionel, he will be spearheading the tough foreign coalition which often does well in this event, as underlined in recent years by wins from Yarrah Boko (2013, 2014), Maharajah (2011) and Giuseppe Bi (2009).
