THE centennial Prix d’Amerique of €900,000 was run at l’Hippodrome Vincennes last Sunday. Even by the usual standards, the crowd at the venue was heaving with excitement. A massive marketing push by Le Trot and a larger than usual opening ceremony deserved a big race, and they got one.

The young gun in the line up, Face Time Bourbon, who was second favourite at 4.10, saw off the actual favourite Davidson du Pont who started at 2.90 on the PMU, or 15/8 in our money. The winner benefited from a superb drive by the Swede Bjorn Goop, who drew plenty of compliments from the sizeable Irish contingent in attendance.