by Thomas Hedlund

French superstar Bold Eagle (Ready Cash) came to the mile race Criterium de Vitesse in Cagnes-sur-Mer with six second-places to look back on from the winter meeting in Paris.

From post number one, driver Franck Nivard could take it easy during the race’s first quarter and
later attack for the lead, where stablemate Billie de Montfort was placed. When in front, Bold Eagle more or less jogged the mile in new record for the race — 1:50.4 — which also is the fastest time noted in Europe so far 2018.

Trainer Sébastien Guarato got his acknowledgement that his horse hasn’t lost morale when he races. Bold Eagle is still one of the most interesting horses among elite trotters in the world and soon after winning Sunday’s race in the French Riviera, the entourage around the 7-year-old Ready Cash son got their invitation for the Elitloppet at Solvalla in May.

In 2017, Bold Eagle crushed his opponents in the elimination at Solvalla and came home in a strong 1:50 mile. In the final, he was never close to challenge leader Timoko and finished fourth, beaten also by Propulsion and Resolve.

It seemed like Guarato and owner Pierre Pilarski were happy about the invitation and most probably Bold Eagle will participate in Elitloppet.

Bird Parker (Ready Cash), who had a successful meeting in Paris, was out of luck in the Criterium de Vitresse. Driver Jean-Philippe Monclin never managed to put Bird Parker closer to the rail than three wide throughout the whole race and the 7-year-old Ready Cash son kept his pace strong to finish fourth place.

Billie de Montfort was second and Dijon third.

Criterium de Vitesse

Elitloppet elimination 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGndRd-fywg

Elitloppet final 2017

Uncertain future for harness racing in Milan

There are tough times for harness racing in Italy and the track in Milan appears to be heading toward an uncertain future.

According to Swedish harness racing magazine sulkysport.se, the track La Maura is about to be sold. If that happens, it would mean there will no longer be racing in Milan in the immediate future.

Well-known Milano track San Siro was closed in December 2012 and now it looks like La Maura is heading the same way. The area around the track is classified as ”green”, which means that no residences or commercial properties can be built there.

Sulkysport.se reports that the harness racing people in Italy still hope that a new government in the country can give the track some financial support, but for the moment no one knows how the new rule will be in Italy.

Classic race Gran Premio d’Europa will change location from La Maura to Modena.