Bold Eagle scratched – Guarato won anyway

The French superstar Bold Eagle was supposed to make his return on the racetrack in the $142,000 Prix de Bretagne at Vincennes, Paris, France last Sunday, but the 6-year-old son of Ready Cash had hoof problems and was scratched from the race.

by Thomas Hedlund

Bold Eagle’s driver Franck Nivard had an accident in the bike last Friday night and the trainer Sébastien Guarato contacted Swedish driver Björn Goop, who was supposed to replace the French reinsman behind Bold Eagle.

The Prix de Bretagne was to be the first race for Bold Eagle since he was defeated by Aubrion du Gers in the Masters Final in September, but a problem with a pus pocket stopped him from participating in the first of four ”B-races” in Paris this winter.

Bold Eagle will not have any problem to make his entry in Prix d’Amérique in January next year, since he already has enough money on his bank account. But for the most of the horses in Europe (and USA), there is a hunt for the ticket to Prix d’Amérique in the B-races. The first three horses in each race will start in PdA 2018.

In the Prix de Bretagne, Guarato ensured that he will have, at least, two horses beside Bold Eagle in the Prix d’Amérique. His Valko Jenilat (Kepler—Perle du Roc) was sent to the front early and driver Eric Raffin could slow down the pace during his road to the home stretch, where Valko Jenilat sprinted to a comfortable victory in a 1:57.,4 (mile rate) over the approximate distance 1.7 miles.

Guarato also had Billie de Montfort (Jasmin de Flore), who finished behind the winner while Philippe Allaire trained Charly du Noyer (Ready Cash) finished third.

On Dec. 10, the next B-race will take place and then it’s time for Prix du Bourbonnais. On Dec. 24, two big races will qualify the winners for Prix d’Amérique. The Criterium Continental for the 4-year-olds and Prix Tenor de Baune for the 5-year-olds are two important races at Christmas time in the French capital city and the fans that stay over New Year’s evening in Paris have the opportunity to see Prix de Bourgogne on Dec. 31.

The last B-race, Prix de Belgique, will take place on Jan. 14, two weeks before the big event at Vincennes.

Spectacular move in Sweden

Adrian Chip son Diamanten has been one of the best 4-year-old trotters in Sweden 2017 together with trainer Robert Bergh. At the end of last week, the horse moved from Bergh to former champion trainer Stig H Johansson’s barn.

Diamanten will start for his new trainer this Saturday, in the $95,000 final of Solvallaserien – Solvalla Grand Prix, and the new driver is Erik Adielsson.

Solvalla Grand Prix
Horse – Driver

Global Trustworthy (Muscle Hill) – Jorma Kontio
Diamanten (Adrian Chip) – Erik Adielsson

Cyber Lane (Raja Mirchi) – Johan Untersteiner
Dominion Beach (Muscle Hill) – Johnny Takter

Milligan’s School (Yankee Glide) – Torbjörn Jansson
Dartagnan Sisu (Ready Cash) – Mattias Djuse
Bruno Bagheera (Joke Face) – Per Lennartsson

Love Matters (Explosive Matters) – Örjan Kihlström

Han Herred (Infinitif) – Kenneth Haugstad

Test Drive (Gigant Neo) – Björn Goop

Makethemark (Maharajah) – Ulf Ohlsson

Lavidaloca de Vie (Crazed) – Ulf Eriksson