WELL-known equine artist Nadina Ironia realised a long-held dream this week - to exhibit her work at the famous French trotting venue, the Vincennes Hippodrome in Paris.

A regular face on the trotting circuit in Ireland, some months ago Latvian-born Nadina was invited to display some of her finest works during the world-renowned Prix d’Amérique and Prix de Cornulier festivals.

All this week, paintings featuring such famous trotters as Ready Cash, twice winner of the Grand Prix d’Amérique, and 2016 Prix de Cornulier winner Scarlet Turgot (pictured), have been gaining huge attention from trotting enthusiasts from all over the world.

“This really is a dream come true,” Nadina said as she prepared for another busy weekend meeting and greeting guests at the exhibition. “I was completely overwhelmed during the first weekend as the owner of Scarlet Turgot commissioned me to do the same painting again as the original had been sold to a fan of the horse the night before.

“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that my paintings would be displayed at Hippodrome de Vincennes, never mind during the Prix d’Amérique which takes place this weekend. I still have to pinch myself!” she concluded.

The Prix d’Amérique is the most prestigious trotting event in the world, with prize money exceeding €3 million.