Swedishman Wins GNT Leg #2

March 27, 2013

The hot-trotting Swedishman (Gogo-Valgana) won today’s Grand National du Trot at Hippodrome Marseille-Borely. Trained and driven by Thierry Duvaldestin (trainer of Ready Cash), Swedishman overcame a 25 meter handicap to score easily in this 3,000 meter (1-7/8 mile) test carrying a purse of 90,000 euro. Finishing second was Recital Carisaie with Eric Raffin aboard with third going to Singapore Sling and Christophe Martens. Swedishman covered his 3,025 distance in 3:44.14, a mile rate of 1:59. This was Leg #2 of the 13 leg series with a final set of December 1 at Paris-Vincennes. Swedishman captured Leg #1 of the 2013 series on March 6 at Amiens.

On March 26 at Paris-Vincennes the five year-old mare United Express (Let’s Go Along-Fangonie-And Arifant) captured the 2,100 meter, 48,000 euro Prix Appolonia (all five year-old mares) for Julien Dubois defeating another Let’s Go Along daughter, Union Mystique. United Express covered the distance in 2:34.62 (mile rate 1:58.42). Her pedigree is rich with money earners as the dam Fangonie produced $252,000 winner Really Queen (by Gros Grain) and the second dam is the $409,000 winner Rangone (by High Echelon). Rangone is the dam of Dream With Me, a winner of $1.7 million and Hangone, she the dam of Daguet Rapide ($2.1 million), Quatre Juillet ($381,000) and Poker Dream ($352,000).

Also of interest were victories by two well-bred four year-old US exports on March 24 at Sorlandet (NO). Both driven by Frode Hamre, One In A Million (Donato Hanover-Mom’s Millionaire –Pine Chip) scored in 1.14.7kr and Megamuscle (Muscles Yankee-Armbro Vanity-Pine Chip) was victorious in 1.15.3kr, both events over the 2,140 meter distance.

Stall Trot, Inc.
Thomas H. Hicks