Two brilliant performances on the road to the Prix d’Amérique
by Thomas Hedlund
Sunday’s (Dec. 21) $250,000 Critérium Continental and $250,000 Prix Tenor de Baune produced two highly impressive winners, although one of them is unlikely to take part in the Prix d’Amérique on Jan. 25, 2026. The pre-race favorite in the Prix Tenor de Baune, Fame And Glory, trained by Timo Nurmos, was scratched a few days prior due to a cold, but the Swedish star was hardly missed in what turned into a tough and exciting contest.
Epic Kronos (Muscle Hill), trained by Daniel Redén, enjoyed a perfect second-over trip under Paul-Philippe Ploquin. When the move came on the uphill portion of the Vincennes stretch, Epic Kronos was able to neutralize the leading favorite Koctel du Dain with relative ease and took over command approaching the long final turn.
Immortal Doc (Brillantissime) followed Epic Kronos closely, but Fredrik Wallin’s trainee was never able to seriously challenge. Epic Kronos was thoroughly convincing, winning in a new stakes record mile rate of 1:54.3 over 2,700 meters.
Epic Kronos had already shown his affinity for Vincennes when winning the European Derby in 2024, and with this performance, Redén’s 5-year-old emerged as one of the leading contenders for the Prix d’Amérique.
Qualifying for the Prix d’Amérique had been the season-long objective for Epic Kronos, and Redén clearly timed his form peak perfectly for the Paris winter meeting.
LIZA JOSSELYN PUNCHES HER TICKET
The 4-year-olds then battled for their Prix d’Amérique berth in the Critérium Continental over 2,100 meters, and the Vincennes crowd had reason to cheer as the ever-popular Jean-Michel Bazire guided his son Nicolas’ filly Liza Josselyn (Ready Cash) to a narrow but decisive victory in a mile rate of 1:52.3.
Liza Josselyn was sent aggressively to the front, and Bazire kept the tempo high throughout on a rain-soaked track. She delivered a decisive burst entering the final turn, opening up a 20-meter advantage turning for home. The win looked secure, but Liza Josselyn understandably tired late, allowing Frank Gio (Face Time Bourbon) to close strongly from the back of the field. Sébastien Guarato’s colt finished fast but came up just short.
Jean-Michel Bazire later confirmed that the Prix d’Amérique will come too soon for Liza Josselyn, and that she will instead be aimed at 5-year-old races after the New Year.
NEXT UP: PRIX DE BOURGOGNE
Ten horses are now qualified for the 2026 Prix d’Amérique, with four additional spots available in the third B-race, the $125,000 Prix de Bourgogne, to be contested today (Dec. 28).
Five already-qualified horses will line up behind the gate in the shortest of the Prix d’Amérique qualifiers. Much of the intrigue surrounds Go On Boy (Password), whose current form will be closely scrutinized. He recently returned in a modest event at Mons and now faces world-class opposition again, starting from post 2.
$125,000 PRIX DE BOURGOGNE — ENTRIES
Horse (sire) — Driver — Trainer
Borups Victory (Googoo Gaagaa) — Daniel Wäjersten
Go On Boy (Password) — Romain Derieux
Jushua Tree (Bold Eagle) — Jean-Michel Bazire — Nicolas Bazire
Iguski Sautonne (Village Mystic) — Matthieu Abrivard
Hokkaido Jiel (Brillantissime) — David Thomain — Jean-Luc Dersoir
Hooker Berry (Booster Winner) — Damien Bonne — Antoine Lherete
Inmarosa (Amiral Sacha) — François Lagadeuc — Laurent-Claude Abrivard
Just Love You (Love You) — Alexandre Abrivard — Laurent-Claude Abrivard
Josh Power (Offshore Dream) — Sébastien Ernault
Crown (Chapter Seven) — Paul-Philippe Ploquin — Daniel Redén
Icebreaker (Chocolatier) — Eric Raffin — Mattias Djuse
Jazzman Debailleul (Repeat Love) — Franck Nivard — Erno Szirmay
J’Aime Le Foot (Boccador de Simm) — Antoine Lherete
Jabalpur (Booster Winner) — Gabriele Gelormini — Alain Chavatte
Jango Vici (Dragon des Racques) — Benjamin Rochard — Antonio Ripoll Rigo
Iroise de la Noe (Tornado Bello) — Thomas Levesque
QUALIFIED FOR THE 2026 PRIX D’AMÉRIQUE
Prix de Bretagne:
Josh Power, Jushua Tree, Borups Victory, J’Aime Le Foot
Prix du Bourbonnais:
Inmarosa, Keep Going, Izoard Vedaquais, Harmony du Rabutin
Prix Tenor de Baune:
Epic Kronos
Critérium Continental:
Liza Josselyn
FUNNY GIO PREVAILS IN NAPLES
Heavy favorite Funny Gio captured the Group 1 $125,000 Gran Premio Royal Mares in Naples last Saturday (Dec. 20), but not without a stern challenge from Emma Dei Veltri.
Antonio di Nardo took Funny Gio (Face Time Bourbon—Amazing Gio) to the lead 1,300 meters from the finish without resistance from Follia d’Esi. Turning for home, Emma Dei Veltri launched a determined outside bid, but Funny Gio held firm to defeat older mares in 1:55.1 over 1,600 meters.
Emma Dei Veltri (Maharajah) surged from second-over and drew alongside in deep stretch, missing by less than a length. Follia d’Esi (Ringostarr Treb) finished third after never finding room from the pocket and appeared to have plenty left at the wire.
