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Among the starters of the Prix d'Amérique, there are horses with remarkable stories and unique profiles. We focus on some of them.
Idao de Tillard
Master trainer Sébastien Guarato often has several starters in the great race. In fact, he has won four of the last ten editions of the Prix d'Amérique so it is surprising he will only be a spectator in 2023. Irrespective he has taken the time to study the field and made his choice tipping Idao de Tillard. He told equidia.fr:
"He's not mine but I like Idao de Tillard a lot. He reminds me of Bold Eagle in the way he runs. I honestly think he will win if he has the right trip. I don't know if Horsy Dream can worry him, but in my opinion, Idao de Tillard is the best."
On both previous and current form, Idao de Tillard is the horse to beat. Two races aside, his record is impeccable including the Criterium des 4 ans. With Nineteen wins in twenty-five races he possesses a mind worthy of the best poker players.
His trainer Thierry Duvaldestin said:
"Remaining calm is his most outstanding quality. We are the favourite, but we are not in a strong position. Idao's unique point is that he will race against barefooted horses whereas he cannot be unshod himself. Each shoe on his forelegs weighs 160 grams…It is very difficult to win the Prix d'Amérique with shoes on. 160 grams over the distance, you can feel it. It's a mini barbell."
It is not just Thierry who will play an important role as part of a family team:
"I will greatly enjoy seeing my two sons in the sulky in this Prix d'Amérique. Idao with Clément for whom it will be his first Prix d'Amérique and Flamme with Théo".
Thierry Duvaldestin has won the Prix d'Amérique as a trainer twice. Both occasions were with Ready Cash, a horse who could not be unshod on the front. The Normandy based trainer knows how to handle delicate feet!
Flamme du Goutier
This nine-year old has only had fifty-two race starts. In trotting, this is not a lot for a horse of her age. However, Flamme du Goutier has won two mounted Prix de Cornuliers' (G1) in a row and intends to be unstoppable in Prix d'Amérique. The last horse to achieve the Cornulier/Amerique double was Jag de Bellouet in 2005. From her fifty-races starts, the mare has only run in seven mounted races and has the most career experience in harness.
Runner-up to Delia du Pommereux over the mobile 2100m in Prix de Bourgogne rating 1'09''7, this "warrior", as her Cornulier jockey Mathieu Mottier calls her, is approaching the Prix d'Amerique in a relaxed manner.
"It's a bonus, " her trainer Thierry Duvaldestin keeps repeating to the press.
Horsy Dream
A bus will need to be hired to bring the Horsy Dream fan club to Vincennes. The connections can feel the fervour around their champion and are making an effort to ensure supporters can be seen and heard. In order for this adventure to be more enjoyable for everyone the stable has prepared a video of the story so far.
The son of Scipion du Goutier has recorded fourteen wins in 31 months. He has won two of the four preparatory races for this Sunday's Prix d'Amérique, firstly against his age group, and then in front of those he will reoppose again on Sunday.
Significantly, the preparation has been without problem, which is not the case for all his opponents! Horsy Dream will have the services of the leading driver Eric Raffin. For Raffin, who was deprived of the Prix d'Amérique last year following the withdrawal of Face Time Bourbon, the reigning French Champion is more than motivated to win the race for the first time in his career.
Pierre Belloche, trainer stated:
"Horsy Dream is very good, very supple and very happy. We erased his previous failure in the Prix Tenor de Baune, which was his winter objective. There was obviously the qualification goal in that race. We had to win because we didn't have the earnings to receive automatic qualification. In the Prix de Belgique, with shoes on, we ran nicely, and won. The weather will be good for the Prix d'Amérique, and that will be an added bonus."
The Prix d'Amérique has thrilled me since childhood. I'm taking part with a horse with a first chance like Idao de Tillard, Flamme du Goutier, Hip Hop Haufor and Hooker Berry. It's a dream come true".
Etonnant
Nothing seems to be taken for granted by Richard Westerink approaching the Prix d'Amérique. Several years ago, his champion Timoko contracted Lyme disease. The horse recovered and won the Elitloppet, but the Prix d'Amérique still eluded him. While Timoko's son Etonnant has already replicated the stallion with his Scandinavian performances, there remains the same French objective to complete.
But, the week before the Prix de Belgique, Etonnant suffered a myositis. A few days later, the horse now appears to feel better and will take his place in this main event on the French calendar.
Richard Westerink, trainer:
"I have never been as stressed as I have been these last few days. Etonnant had ten days without work. After his training on Monday, I was reassured by his work and blood test. He will have three training sessions this week as opposed to two if his preparation had been normal. We will do our best".
Decoloration
Four prep races for the Prix d'Amérique resulted in failing to fill a place, finishing fourth twice and finally, in the Prix de Belgique, a top three finish providing the golden ticket to race in the Prix d'Amérique. Her team is motivated to get the best out of this mare. She has run on seven occasions recording a time beween 1'10 and 1''11''9 – twice being on the Prix d'Amérique course. Last year, she competed in races worth 36,000 euros in prize money to the winner - twelve times lower than the Prix d'Amérique!
Her trainer Jean-Michel Baudouin, trainer:
"She started to improve this summer when competing against horses who had a view of being aimed toward this years' Prix d'Amérique. In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't qualify in the first prep, as it allowed me to improve her further. She will run barefoot and with her flat blinkers and a left mouthpiece to turn at ease. I think it takes a lot of luck and maybe even a miracle to win the Prix d'Amérique."
Hip Hop Haufor
In a solid generation of six-year-olds being represented in this Prix d'Amérique including Horsy Dream, Hooker Berry, Hohneck and Hussard du Landret, Hip Hop Haufor is a horse that deserves noting. Winner of Prix de Bretagne and therefore qualified very early, the rest of his preparation has been lacklustre but smooth. It should also be remembered that in one-year, Christian Bigeon 's runner has more than doubled his earnings, reaching 350,000 euros. This is a sizeable sum yet nevertheless still makes him the least affluent horse in the race.
Christian Bigeon, trainer:
"He has the temperament of a thoroughbred. We have upped the work in the last few days, and he responded very well to that. He will run barefoot and be fitted with earplugs to give him an extra edge in the straight."