Nocive du Choquel strikes in Criterium des Jeunes

Gerard Forni photo – Nocive du Choquel (François Lagadeuc) winning the $220,000 Criterium des Jeunes on Sunday at Vincennes.

by Thomas Hedlund

The first Group 1 event for the newly turned 3-year-olds in France was contested at Vincennes on Sunday (Feb. 15), and although the winner had already captured several major races among the N-crop, she was not heavily backed in the $220,000 Criterium des Jeunes.

The filly in question, Nocive du Choquel (Face Time Bourbon), capitalized on a perfect second-over trip. Race favorite Normandie Niemen, trained by Philippe Allaire, appeared to have things under control for much of the stretch, but Nocive du Choquel unleashed a sharp late kick, digging in gamely and showing the kind of determination that defines top-class performers.

Well before the wire, driver François Lagadeuc could sense victory was secure for the Nicolas Bridault-trained filly, who stopped the clock in a 1:58 mile rate over 2,700 meters. Normandie Niemen held second ahead of Nelson Emge.

Earlier this winter, Nocive du Choquel captured both the $125,000 Prix Une de Mai and the $125,000 Prix Gelinotte at Vincennes and entered Sunday’s Group 1 as the richest runner in the field.

The 3-year-old filly is linebred to Love You, who appears as both her maternal grandsire and great-grandsire.

BAZIRE’S NEW STAR EMERGING

Four-year-old Minuty du Gers (Royal Dream) delivered an eye-catching performance in Sunday’s (Feb. 15) $105,000 Prix d’Orthez at Vincennes, marking his sixth win in 10 career starts.

The Nicolas Bazire trainee has now won four straight at Vincennes. On Sunday, he made the lead midway through the 2,850-meter contest and simply toyed with the opposition.

From the front, he was never threatened, drawing away with authority to score in a 1:59.1 mile rate.

MARATHON TEST AHEAD: PRIX DE PARIS

Sunday (Feb. 22) brings the final Grand Prix event of the Paris winter meeting. Following the Prix d’Amérique and the Prix de France, the spotlight now turns to the marathon $440,000 Prix de Paris, contested over 4,150 meters — more than two full laps of the Vincennes oval. After the first round of withdrawals, both Prix d’Amérique winner Hokkaido Jiel and Prix de France heroine Iroise de la Noe are no longer in the field.

Among the French contenders, Just Love You, Ibiki de Houelle, and King Opera currently attract the most attention. The most accomplished runner attempting the grueling distance is Daniel Redén’s Francesco Zet, whose all-American pedigree will now be tested over one of the sport’s ultimate stamina examinations — proving whether the “Yankee bloodlines” can handle the classic French staying test.

ENTRIES – $440,000 PRIX DE PARIS

Francesco Zet

Hooker Berry

Just Love You

Frank Gio

Ibiki de Houelle

Justin Bold

Immortal Doc

J’Aime le Foot

Jazzman Debailleul

Happy Danica

King Opera

Harmony du Rabutin

Working Class Hero

He And Me

Idylle Express

Kika Josselyn

THE STATE OF THE GLOBAL TROTTING SIRE MARKET 2025

Two continents, two systems – one global breed

The 2025 season confirms what many breeders have sensed for years: the global trotting market is no longer a single hierarchy — it is a dual structure.

North America dominates the economics. Europe dominates the geography. And Oceania sits strategically between them.

If total earnings are the metric, the United States remains the undisputed financial powerhouse of the sport.

The American sire lists are driven by: large purses, dense racing programs, strong 2- and 3-year-old markets, and high starter frequency.

The Chapter Seven dynasty continues to produce commercial firepower, while Walner has solidified himself as a generational young sire. Behind them, the ever-present influence of Muscle Hill still defines the structural backbone of North American breeding.

The American model is built on internal strength. Top stallions tend to dominate domestically rather than internationally, but the volume is unmatched. The U.S. market rewards precocity and early speed, which shapes both stallion demand and yearling valuations.

In pure dollar terms, America leads the world.

EUROPE: THE EMPIRE OF DISTRIBUTION

Europe operates differently. Instead of one dominant market, it is a network of strong national circuits — France, Sweden, Italy, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and beyond — all interconnected through breeding mobility.

Here, the Ready Cash line continues to define the era. From Face Time Bourbon to Readly Express, from France to Scandinavia, the bloodline remains the most internationally influential in modern trotting. And at the center of Northern Europe stands Maharajah, whose cross-border consistency makes him arguably Europe’s most globally distributed sire in 2025.

European stallions frequently earn in four to six countries within a single season. That breadth of geographic impact is something the U.S. model rarely produces.

While average purses may not rival American stakes money, European sires command influence through international penetration rather than pure domestic volume.

Europe exports genetics. America exports scale.

OCEANIA: STRATEGIC HYBRID TERRITORY

Australia and New Zealand present a hybrid market.

Genetically, the region leans heavily toward North American blood — particularly the Muscle Hill line. Yet European stallions, notably from the Ready Cash and Love You branches, have carved meaningful influence.

The Oceanian market is smaller in absolute numbers but often efficient on a per-starter basis. Imported stallions play a major role, and the region frequently acts as an extension of North American breeding strategy with selective European reinforcement.

It is less about dominance and more about strategic adaptation.

THE TWO PILLARS OF 2025

Across all jurisdictions, two sire lines continue to shape the global breed:

Muscle Hill — structural dominance in North America and Oceania

Ready Cash — territorial dominance in Europe

Around them orbit powerful secondary branches — Chapter Seven, Walner, Face Time Bourbon, Maharajah — each representing evolution within their respective systems. The global trotting sire market in 2025 is not defined by one universal champion.

It is defined by systems:

America: economic volume and commercial precocity

Europe: genetic distribution and international reach

Oceania: adaptive hybrid strength

Swedish harness racing media sulkysport.se recently published the stats about stallions all over the world and all numbers are taken from its year-in review issue.

FRANCE 2025

Sire Rankings — Trotters (sulky and monté)

Rank — Stallion — Sire Starts — Wins — Earnings (EUR) — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Ready Cash — Indy de Vive — 1,910 — 230 — €7,060,685 — $7,625,540 — 1

2. Face Time Bourbon — Ready Cash — 1,310 — 210 — €6,012,515 — $6,493,516 — 9

3. Booster Winner — Love You — 2,000 — 190 — €4,983,030 — $5,381,672 — 3

4. Love You — Coktail Jet — 1,828 — 189 — €4,804,065 — $5,188,390 — 2

5. Royal Dream — Love You — 1,504 — 166 — €4,289,055 — $4,632,179 — 7

6. Bird Parker — Ready Cash — 1,672 — 150 — €4,190,685 — $4,525,940 — 5

7. Prodigious — Goetmals Wood — 1,363 — 149 — €4,075,560 — $4,401,605 — 4

8. Village Mystic — Love You — 1,471 — 139 — €3,889,720 — $4,200,898 — 8

9. Boccador de Simm — Rieussec — 1,570 — 148 — €3,825,010 — $4,131,011 — New

10. Carat Williams — Prodigious — 1,457 — 133 — €3,600,135 — $3,888,146 — 10

Out: Bold Eagle (6)

SWEDEN 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Starters — Starts — Wins — Win Percentage — Earnings (USD)

1. Maharajah — Viking Kronos — 509 — 4,029 — 490 — 12.2 — $8,356,980

2. Readly Express — Ready Cash — 310 — 2,539 — 473 — 18.6 — $7,194,863

3. Face Time Bourbon — Ready Cash — 114 — 928 — 179 — 19.3 — $4,257,535

4. Googoo Gaagaa — Cam’s Rocket — 250 — 1,895 — 262 — 13.8 — $4,071,792

5. Nuncio — Andover Hall — 220 — 1,873 — 218 — 11.6 — $3,544,972

6. S.J.’s Caviar — S.J.’s Photo — 347 — 2,839 — 292 — 10.3 — $3,423,483

7. Ready Cash — Indy de Vive — 126 — 917 — 183 — 20 — $3,215,961

8. Bold Eagle — Ready Cash — 173 — 1,500 — 195 — 13 — $2,704,353

9. Orlando Vici — Quadrophenio — 253 — 2,087 — 173 — 8.3 — $2,470,526

10. Propulsion — Muscle Hill — 123 — 1,051 — 182 — 17.3 — $2,333,028

NORTH AMERICA — ALL AGED TROTTERS 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Foals — Starters — Wins — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Chapter Seven — Windsong’s Legacy — 828 — 246 — 509 — $14,368,777 — 1

2. Walner — Chapter Seven — 472 — 222 — 412 — $11,403,599 — 2

3. Muscle Hill — Muscles Yankee — 1,209 — 195 — 433 — $9,704,659 — 3

4. Father Patrick — Cantab Hall — 684 — 216 — 457 — $6,655,603 — 4

5. Greenshoe — Father Patrick — 311 — 184 — 323 — $6,338,012 — 10

6. Swan For All — Andover Hall — 1,111 — 206 — 436 — $6,316,731 — 7

7. Muscle Mass — Muscles Yankee — 1,116 — 281 — $535 — $6,193,431 — 5

8. Tactical Landing — Muscle Hill — 402 — 174 — 301 — $6,168,094 — 6

9. Bar Hopping — Muscle Hill — 408 — 176 — 357 — $6,056,615 — New

10. Cantab Hall — Self Possessed — 1,048 — 170 — 427 — $5,347,061 — 8

Out: International Moni

NORTH AMERICA — 2- AND 3-YEAR-OLD TROTTERS 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Foals — Starters — Wins — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Chapter Seven —Windsong’s Legacy — 195 — 140 — 261 — $11,085,210 — 1

2. Walner — Chapter Seven — 187 — 140 — 215 — $6,931,276 — 2

3. Greenshoe — Father Patrick — 210 — 150 — 261 — $5,281,774 — 5

4. Muscle Hill — Muscles Yankee — 138 — 99 — 136 — $4,890,941 — 4

5. Tactical Landing — Muscle Hill — 192 — 122 — 185 — $4,676,551 — 3

6. Captain Corey — Googoo Gaagaa — 104 — 79 — 85 — $3,565,816 — New

7. Green Manalishi S — Muscle Hill — 195 — 142 — 192 — $3,459,981 — New

8. Bar Hopping — Muscle Hill — 155 — 111 — 186 — $3,441,310 — New

9. Swan For All — Andover Hall — 184 — 113 — 212 — $3,060,513 — 9

10. Long Tom — Muscle Hill — 178 — 114 — 228 — $3,018,516 — 10

Note: Captain Corey = first crop sire.

AUSTRALIA — TROTTERS 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Starters — Starts — Wins — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Majestic Son — Angus Hall — 149 — 1,906 — 223 — $1,559,180 — 1

2. Love You — Coktail Jet — 55 — 837 — 108 — $1,040,924 — 3

3. Volstead — Cantab Hall — 67 — 760 — 98 — $838,547 — 2

4. Skyvalley — Muscles Yankee — 73 — 907 — 105 — $649,720 — 6

5. What The Hill — Muscle Hill — 43 — 348 — 75 — $520,383 — New

6. Father Patrick — Cantab Hall — 68 — 666 — 76 — $468,017 — 4

7. Trixton — Muscle Hill — 17 — 230 — 20 — $454,577 — 5

8. Aldebaran Eagle — Muscle Hill — 41 — 396 — 50 — $372,495 — 8

9. Used To Me — Nuage de Lait — 27 — 415 — 67 — $341,333 — New

10. Sebastian K — Korean — 35 — 368 — 49 — $330,891 — 9

NEW ZEALAND — TROTTERS 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Starters — Starts — Wins — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Majestic Son — Angus Hall — 145 — 1,590 — 160 — $1,763,410 — 1

2. Father Patrick — Cantab Hall — 90 — 913 — 110 — $1,209,665 — 2

3. What The Hill — Muscle Hill — 78 — 780 — 94 — $1,192,425 — 4

4. Love You — Coktail Jet — 57 — 592 — 67 — $896,118 — 3

5. Muscle Mass — Muscles Yankee — 43 — 420 — 57 — $507,921 — 8

6. Creatine — Andover Hall — 41 — 414 — 37 — $460,529 — 7

7. Trixton — Muscle Hill — 9 — 162 — 19 — $347,706 — New

8. Royal Aspirations — Monarchy — 33 — 355 — 36 — $296,352 — New

9. Peak — Ganymede — 22 — 344 — 32 — $269,333 — 10

10. Pegasus Spur — S.J.’s Photo — 22 — 270 — 27 — $261,319 — New

DENMARK 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Foals — Starts — Wins — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Great Challenger — Conway Hall — 125— 1,335 — 159 — $654,690 — 2

2. Ens Snapshot — S.J.’s Photo — 138 — 1,574 — 148 — $603,300 — 1

3. Wishing Stone — Conway Hall — 72 — 652 — 74 — $559,350 — 3

4. Readly Express — Ready Cash — 21 — 111 — 30 — $363,270 — New

5. Googoo Gaagaa — Cam’s Rocket — 45 — 299 — 50 — $335,250 — 7

6. Maharajah — Viking Kronos — 49 — 304 — 41 — $253,760 — 4

7. Nuncio — Andover Hall — 13 — 83 — 18 — $210,560 — 9

8. S.J.’s Caviar — S.J.’s Photo — 59 — 530 — 66 — $208,080 — 5

9. Dominion Beach — Muscle Hill — 45 — 389 — 36 — $180,900 — 10

10. From Above — Donato Hanover — 42 — 496 — 39 — $168,230 — New

AUSTRIA 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Starts — Wins — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Light Kronos — S.J.’s Photo — 430 — 39 — $133,385 — 1

2. Charly du Noyer — Ready Cash — 45 — 7 — $54,968 — 2

3. Face Time Bourbon — Ready Cash — 11 — 5 — $50,724 — 10

4. Orlando Vici — Quadrophenio — 137 — 18 — $47,206 — 6

5. Booster Winner — Love You — 58 — 17 — $41,217 — New

6. Fabulous Wood — Ready Cash —52 — 11 — $34,020 — New

7. Celebration XL — Oscar Schindler SL — 112 — 13 — $31,065 — 5

8. Ready Cash — Indy de Vive — 41 — 3 — $26,775 — New

9. S.J.’s Caviar — S.J.’s Photo — 65 — 10 — $24,732 — New

10. Baltimore As — Ganymede — 26 — 6 — $22,882 — New

FINLAND 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Foals — Starts — Wins — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Maharajah — Viking Kronos — 306 — 1,786 — 248 — $1,798,728 — 1

2. Orlando Vici — Quadrophenio — 183 — 730 — 91 — $578,692 — 4

3. Muscle Hill — Muscles Yankee — 88 — 164 — 28 — $413,208 — New

4. Zola Boko — Goetmals Wood — 240 — 746 — 67 — $394,854 7

5. Express Duo — Express It — 147 — 323 — 43 — $394,117 — 2

6. Jontte Boy — Love You — 200 — 631 — 67 — $350,087 — New

7. Nuncio — Andover Hall — 50 — 244 — 45 — $330,714 — 3

8. S.J.’s Caviar — S.J.’s Photo — 216 — 678 — 57 — $284,885 — 6

9. Knows Nothing — Kadabra — 261 — 775 — 64 — $276,072 — 8

10. Quite Easy — Andover Hall — 222 — 500 — 44 — $272,831 — 5

NORWAY 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Starters — Starts — Wins — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Maharajah — Viking Kronos — 172 — 1,500 — 205 — $1,777,792 — 1

2. Readly Express — Ready Cash — 60 — 523 — 119 — $941,072 — 2

3. Orlando Vici — Quadrophenio — 107 — 966 — 89 — $755,124 — 4

4. Googoo Gaagaa — Cam’s Rocket — 61 — 518 — 71 — $684,700 — New

5. Bold Eagle — Ready Cash — 34 — 269 — 47 — $528,185 — 5

6. Papagayo E. — Coktail Jet — 59 — 524 — 56 — $515,063 — 9

7. Father Patrick — Cantab Hall — 18 — 192 — 29 — $479,015 — New

8. Brillantissime — Ready Cash — 30 — 305 — 34 — $464,326 — New

9. S.J.’s Caviar — S.J.’s Photo — 55 — 578 — 59 — $432,066 — New

10. Tobin Kronos — Muscle Hill — 19 — 225 — 31 — $370,100 — New

ITALY 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Foals — Starters — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Maharajah — Viking Kronos — 620 — 291 — $3,437,538 — 1

2. Face Time Bourbon — Ready Cash — 141 — 69 — $3,026,757 — 2

3. Nad al Sheba — Windsong’s Legacy — 699 — 247 — $2,613,837 — 4

4. Varenne — Waikiki Beach — 844 — 277 — $2,091,489 — 3

5. Wishing Stone — Conway Hall — 302 — 172 — $1,230,283 — 5

6. Ringostarr Treb — Classic Photo — 356 — 156 — $1,175,231 — New

7. Readly Express — Ready Cash — 109 — 61 — $1,038,011 — New

8. Exploit Caf — Toss Out — 275 — 80 — $922,452 — 7

9. Napoleon Bar — Varenne — 445 — 189 — $913,753 — 6

10. Oropuro Bar — Love You — 597 — 213 — $816,649 — 8

NETHERLANDS 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Starters — Starts — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Cantab Hall — Self Possessed — 5 — 45 — $150,620 — New

2. Maharajah — Viking Kronos — 12 — 83 — $113,767 — 10

3. Chelsea Boko — Chocolatier — 18 — 135 — $97,160 — 7

4. Pastor Stephen — Cantab Hall — 4 — 35 — $82,783 — 9

5. Love You — Coktail Jet — 6 — 55 — $82,694 — New

6. Ufo Kievitshof — Supergill — 18 — 177 — $73,478 — 6

7. Feliciano — Ready Cash — 1 — 13 — $67,581 — New

8. Muscle Mass — Muscles Yankee — 11 — 98 — $63,985 — 5

9. Propulsion — Muscle Hill — 2 — 11 — $56,723 — New

10. Donato Hanover — Andover Hall — 4 — 22 — $55,260 — 4

GERMANY 2025

Rank — Stallion — Sire Starters — Earnings (USD) — 2024 Rank

1. Maharajah — Viking Kronos — 35 — $395,607 — 4

2. Love You — Coktail Jet — 36 — $298,664 — 2

3. Indigious — Prodigious — 23 — $295,274 — New

4. Victor Gio — Ready Cash — 11 — $286,898 — New

5. S.J.’s Caviar — S.J.’s Photo — 28 — $248,119 — 1

6. Booster Winner — Love You — 6 — $234,383 — New

7. Orlando Vici — Quadrophenio — 25 — $188,022 — 5

8. Niky — Viking’s Way — 1 — $154,051 — New

9. Trixton — Muscle Hill — 13 — $145,370 — New

10. Bird Parker — Ready Cash — $5 — 130,846 — 3

ALL COUNTRIES (MENTIONED) COMBINED 2025

Rank — Stallion — Global Earnings (USD)

1. Chapter Seven — $25,453,987

2. Walner — $18,334,875

3. Maharajah — $15,628,393

4. Readly Express — $11,979,216

5. Muscle Hill — $10,907,298

6. Face Time Bourbon — $9,534,273

7. Ready Cash — $7,653,275

8. Googoo Gaagaa — $6,939,021

9. Love You — $5,371,544

10. Orlando Vici — $4,028,944

11. S.J.’s Caviar — $3,891,662

12. Father Patrick — $3,496,277

13. Bold Eagle — $3,228,538

14. Wishing Stone — $1,789,633

15. Nuncio — $1,500,834