After the Prix de Bretagne – America Races Q1, we gain momentum with the Prix du Bourbonnais – America Races Q2. Not that the second of the two races is of greater importance than the first (both are labeled Group 2 and similarly allocated, at 120,000 euros), but the fact that the big deadline of the last Sunday in January is fast approaching makes it, de facto, even more attractive. Like three weeks ago, the first four will be automatically qualified for the Prix d'Amérique Legend Race.
Un unique dead heat
In 2005 the only deadheat in the history of the race was recorded, between Mara Bourbon and Swedish Super Lightthis one having returned twenty-five meters to this one. Riding the mare, Jean-Pierre Dubois won his second Prix du Bourbonnais, twenty-six years after the one won with High Echelon. This is the biggest gap between two victories for a driver, more than the twenty-one years separating the successes of Jean-René Gougeon with Quarinain 1967, and with Ourasiin 1988.
The record for Astonnant
As of 2021, the competition record is held by Amazingwho trotted the kilometer in a time of 1'11''4, a time that the following two winners could not contest, Hooker Berry et San Motorcredited, respectively, with 1'12''9 and 1'12'', the time which is closest to that of Richard Westerink's protégé from now on. Note that, on this route and returning twenty-five meters, It’s A Dollarmakerwinner of the GNT Final (Group 2), Sunday, surpasses Amazingshowing 1'11''2, just like the champion gelding did Cleangamegiving fifty meters, him, at the head, in the 2020 edition of the Prix de Brest (Group 3).
Race record
→ Amazing1’11’’4 (2021).
Male/female record
◆ Male: Amazing1’11’’4 (2021).
◆ Female: Délia du Pommereux1’13’’ (2018).
Record horse victories
→ Ourasi (x3) : 1985, 1986, 1988.
◆ Balou Boy (x2): 1996, 1997.
◆ Fiesta d'Anjou (x2): 1999, 2000.
◆ Super Light (x2): 2005, 2006.
◆ Ready Cash (x2): 2011, 2012.
◆ Délia du Pommereux (x2): 2018, 2019.
Kerjacques and Ready Cash, on an equal footing
Workcques et Ready Cash are the two stallions having produced the most different winners of the Prix du Bourbonnais. Thus each of them gave three winners of the race, regarding, for Workcquesof Tuscanin 1968,One from Mayin 1970, and Gaméliain 1978, and, for Ready Cashof Bold Eaglein 2016, from Bird Parkerin 2017, and Face Time Bourbonin 2020.
Always Ready Cash!
Ready Cash – him again! – is, barring error or omission, the only stallion to have won the Prix du Bourbonnais to have fathered a product that was also a winner of the race. He even gave three in Bold Eaglewinner in 2016, Bird Parkerwinning the following year, and Face Time Bourbonin the spotlight in 2020.
Three foreigners on the list
Only three foreign trotters are on the Prix du Bourbonnais prize list, the race not having been opened to them straight away, it is true. These are Sea Covethe 1992 winner, Super Lightauthor of a double, in 2005 and 2006, and San Motorwho is none other than the title holder.
