Weekend Recap: Drama, confirmations and a final victory
As we’re getting closer and closer to the winter season at Vincennes, which starts in just three days with a meeting highlighted by the Prix des Cévennes, we once again look back at some of the highlights of the weekend.
With the winter meeting just around the corner, keep an eye on my website as I’ll soon be looking ahead at the races and horses to follow in the coming weeks.
C.L. Müllers Memorial Drama
The raceday at Jägersro was affected by bad weather, with plenty of comments about the state of the track. But that wasn’t what dominated the discussions after the raceday.
The C.L. Müllers Memorial was the highlight of the day, featuring A Fair Day, the comeback of Diva EK after her second place in the Yonkers International Trot and some horses looking for a breakthrough performance.
The race itself didn’t bring much drama. Diva EK took the lead from the start, while second favourite A Fair Day had to settle in the death seat.
Diva EK, who had only raced over 2140m five times in her entire career before this particular race, slowed down the pace dramatically. It wasn’t until the last 300m that the real threats emerged; both Kentucky River and Boscha Diablo, who got beautiful hidden trips from third-over and behind the leader, pressed the leader.
Diva EK managed to hold both horses off. But mere minutes after the finish, the announcement was heard through the speakers: Diva EK was to be demoted to third place after impeding in the home straight. The judges reached their decision after reviewing the images, placing her behind the two horses she impeded.
However, the drama wasn’t over yet; Kentucky River and Boscha Diablo crossed the finish line at the exact same time, resulting in a dead heat.
The incredibly consistent Kentucky River took his first victory since April 25, while Boscha Diablo delivered a breakthrough performance over the longer distances.
The final time was 1’12’’9 over 2640m.
Tour Européen du Trotteur Français Final
Created in 2007, the Tour Européen du Trotteur Français is a circuit reserved for French Trotters.For the 2026 edition, horses earn points according to their finishing positions in each stage. The points determine priority entry and the choice of starting position behind the car for the final.
In the five stages, we had three different winners: Hamonet de Choisel (Mons, Wolvega and Gelsenkirchen), Gold du Rabutin (Avenches) and Helios Pierji (Son Pardo). However, it was Jotunn du Dôme who took victory in the final at Mons on October 24. It was an incredible battle throughout the race between him and Hamonet de Choisel, who had to settle for second.
Hamonet de Choisel collected 71 points over the entire tour, making him the winner with 16 points over second-placed Jotumn du Dome. Gold du Rabutin finished third with 42 points.
Final start for Always EK
Always EK, the half-brother of Diva EK and Executiv EK, has made his final career start. The horse trained by Alessandro Gocciadoro travelled to Austria to compete for one last time, taking part in the Graf Kálmán Hunyady-Gedenkrennen (€25,000), at the Krieau racetrack in Vienna.
The race has been held since 1898 and has attracted horses from around Europe. On the roll of honour, we can find Opal Viking, Venividivici Joe, Orlando Jet, Night Brodde and Totto Barosso.
Always EK had to work slightly for the lead but didn’t look back afterwards. He won in a time of 1´13´´9 over 2600m. German Aladin and Dutch Juguar van Assum lost by a tenth, settling for second and third.
Always EK has made 94 career starts, with 33 victories and 17 other podium finishes. His earnings total €1,152,738, with a personal best of 1'08''6 over 1609m in the 2024 Sweden Cup Elimination.
His biggest victories include the Gran Premio Lotteria 2025 (heat and final), Premio Costa Azzurra 2026, Gran Premio delle Nazioni 2024, Prix de Munich 2024, Prix Oscar Collard 2021 and Prix d'Orthez in 2020.
His trainer confirmed to Swedish media that Always EK will retire:
“This was a wonderful way to end his career. Next year, he will stand at stud.”
Group 2 races for three-year-olds in France
On Friday, two group 2 races for three-year-olds were held at Vincennes.
The Prix Victor Régis, open to colts only, was dominated by Nobel du Rib, who keeps improving with every race. He had to do it the hard way, racing from the death seat throughout the race. The Face Time Bourbon son still covered the last 500m in 1’07’’8. His final time was 1’12’’1 over 2175m.
In the Prix Uranie it was a fifth victory in a row for the Hohneck daughter Naya d’Eronville, who backhed up her victory in the Critérium des 3 Ans. While her biggest contender in the Prix Uranie, Nocive du Choquel, made a rather unfortunate break in the early stages of the race, Naya d’Eronville charged to the front three wide around the 1500m mark and demonstrated her strength in the latter stages by not giving in. She beat big outsider Nyassa Daxel (41/1), who impressed from the lead. Naya d’Eronville recorded a time of 1’12’’2 over 2175m, with a last 500m in 1’09’’1.
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