Last `Amérique` test with (almost) all stars

Paris-Vincennes, Sunday, 15 January: The last test run for the Prix d`Amérique in a fortnight takes place today in Vincennes. 18 horses line up in the Prix de Belgique (4th race/15.15/120,000 Euro/2850 m) and most of them will be seen again the Sunday after next.

Hooker Berry (Jean-Michel Bazire) made his presence felt in the Prix du Bourbonnais (Group 2), defeating Hussard du Landret (Benoit Robin), who, like the Bazire protégé, played no part over the short distance in the Prix de Bourgogne (Group 2). Delia du Pommereux (Pierre-Yves Verva) won the match easily and in a new best time ahead of Decoloration (Gabriele Gelormini), among others, who finished fourth in the `Bourbonnais` ahead of the ten-year-old. Behind her came Hip Hop Haufor (Christian Bigeon), whose triumph in the Prix de Belgique (Group 2) over Italiano Vero (David Thomain) is still well remembered. In his most recent appearance in the Prix Tenor de Baune (Group 1), the five-year-old was sixth in the picture and not far off Hohneck (Francois Lagadeuc) for a better premium, but didn`t stand a chance against the winning Horsy Dream (Eric Raffin) and Beads (Yoann Lebourgeois), who was the giant outsider with the best performance in the meeting. In that match, Calgary Games (Björn Goop) jumped all chances in the closing stages. The Swedish Derby winner could now make up for lost time. Bleff Dipa (Alexandre Abrivard) emerged victorious against Hohneck in the Prix Doynel de Saint-Quentin (Group 2).

The following horses have qualified for the Prix d`Amérique so far:

Hip Hop Haufor, Italiano Vero, Ampia Mede SM (Prix de Bretagne).
Hooker Berry, Hussard du Landret, Etonnant (Prix du Bourbonnais)
Délia du Pommereux, Flamme du Goutier (Prix de Bourgogne)
Idao de Tillard (Critérium Continental)
Horsy Dream (Prix Ténor de Baune)