“Last year I watched the America’s Prize from the stands. This year I have a chance with Horsey Dream,” Eric Ruffin relishes.

Everyone was looking forward to the Prix d’Amérique Races Zeturf Qualif 4 – Prix Ténor de Baune – and the participation of the Scandinavian champion, Calgary Games, against the best French trotters at the age of 5 years. Unfortunately for his fans and his many fans, Bjorn Gup’s partner lost momentum as he approached the plain, thus suffering the first defeat of his career. So he won’t imitate his father, DoneExpresswinner of this 2017 event. This prank was a godsend for his opponents, who took full advantage of horse dream, which confirms his rise to power in recent weeks. “I risked losing,” admits Eric Ruffin, who also took advantage of the guilt Herald of arms in the final turn to be able to get free from the rope. Pierre Belloch did not give me any instructions. He just told me to have fun and not break his toy (laughs). “One thing is for sure: the rider who flies to the fourth Sulky d’Or must have savored the difficult straight line of his teammate, the winner of his first group I. “Today we should have won,” the winning pilot continues. who secures his place on the last Sunday of January by this victory. “Last year I watched the Prix d’Amérique from the stands,” he says, recalling a last-minute Face Time Bourbon package. horse dream is one of the horses that will have a chance to finish fifth on January 29th. »

If the Vendée rider is thrilled by this success, the same is true of his owners, the François family, who couldn’t hide their emotions while passing the post. ” horse dream lives up to its name and the dream continues,” says Sylvain François. I have the soul of a breeder and this is a great advertisement for his pedigree. »

Idao Tillard at a demonstration

An hour later, Idao Tillard once again demonstrated its great potential. Unlike his Swedish counterpart, the French champion was there, winning the Prix d’Amérique Races Zeturf Qualif 3 – Critérium Continental without flinching adding a second Group I to his roster. “This is the real thing,” his coach Thierry Duwaldestin announces. And seeing how Idao Tillard passed through this prestigious meeting, in which he won bold eagle and Face Time Bourbon in the past, there is no doubt that whoever wins seventeen victories in twenty-four attempts will become one of the contenders for the title in the Prix d’Amérique. For its pilot, Clément Duvaldestine, the dream continues. “When I lowered his blinkers, he flew away,” confirms the person concerned. I don’t know if I will ever find a horse like him. An unusual trotter who also flipped his owner, Cyril Sevestre: “I confess that today I shed a tear for the first time. »

The disappointment of Bjorn Gup

A few minutes after disqualification Calgary Games, his driver Bjorn Gup was isolated in the dressing room of Vincennes and showed the face of bad days. Despite the disappointment, the Swedish rider returned to the moment when all his hopes were dashed: “I am clearly disappointed. But this is racing and you must stay at the trot from one end of the track to the other. I really have no explanation for this lack of pace. He jumped for no apparent reason. Fortunately, the horse returned in good health. As for his future program, we will have to see what his environment will do. » Calgary Games they will have one last chance to qualify by racing the Prix d’Amerique Races Zeturf Qualif 6 – Prix de Belgique on 15 January. His coach Timo Nurmos will decide on the future of his champion in the coming days.