by Thomas Hedlund

Sunday’s (March 9) $200,000 Grand Criterium de Vitesse in Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French Riviera became a show with two 11-year-old trotters battling for the win.

Benjamin Goetz-trained Emeraude de Bais (Repeat Love), driven by Franck Nivard, was one of the favorites behind the big star Go On Boy and another E-horse made an interesting comeback at the track. Etonnant, winner of Elitloppet 2022, seemed eager to perform at a high level directly after his break and driver Anthony Barrier sent Etonnant to the lead in the mile race.

Rain in Cagnes-sur-Mer is rare throughout the year, but Sunday’s card became a humid story with a track that avoided becoming sloppy. A hard track surface was presented, but the pace never reached world record levels and favorite Go On Boy had to struggle to get in contact with the front horses at the top of the stretch. Go On Boy’s finish ended with a break mid-stretch and the fight for the win became a battle between leader Etonnant and outside trotter Emeraude de Bais.

Etonnant was brave on the lead, but Emeraude de Bais proved that she still has energy and moral to race as she disarmed Etonnant with 100 meters to go, winning in 1:53.4.

Replay here.

Etonnant was the runner-up in his comeback and Ampia Mede Sm followed in third after an inside trip.

Emeraude de Bais will not be allowed to race much longer in France and her career has been splendid. Approximately $1,170,000 in earnings and a 1:49.4 record mark closes her racing career and she is definitely considered as one of the best mares ever raced in France, even if big Grand Prix-trophies are missing from her career.

CANADIAN CONTRIBUTION IN ELITLOPPET IN MAY

Solvalla has invited a second horse for this year’s edition of Elitloppet. French champion Go On Boy will get company from Canadian trotter Logan Park (Archangel), trained by Rob Fellows and this invitation is a welcome ingredient to Elitloppet.

North American trotters (trained in Canada or the U.S.) have been successful in many memorable editions of Elitloppet, but not lately. Åke Svanstedt’s Resolve was runner-up in both 2016 and 2017, but the latest winner trained in America was Moni Maker in 1998.

Can Logan Park be the horse that repeats Billyjojimbob’s feat from 1992? The fans will at least have a very fast horse to cheer for as Logan Park is the fastest Canadian-bred trotter in history and his record was set in Lexington in 2024, when he claimed the $153,000 Allerage Farms Open Trot in 1:49.2.

“After over 40 years of horse training, this is the greatest honor we have ever experienced,” said Fellows in a press release from Solvalla. “Representing Canada with Logan Park is a dream come true. Together, let’s show the world the best athletes in our sport.”