Swedish superstar Maharajah made his fourth trip to France a winning one by capturing the €1 million Prix d'Amerique at Hippodrome Paris-Vincennes on Sunday.
The son of Viking Kronos finished second in 2011, fourth in 2012 and out of the money last year but driver Ôrjan Kihlström navigated a perfect trip for his trotter today. On the lead early after seizing the lead from Yarrah Boko (Pierre Vercruysse), Kihlström allowed favoured Up And Quick (Jean Michel Bazire) to take lead and thus received the pocket trip behind the public choice.
Just past the halfway point of the race, Franck Nivard positioned Ready Cash into the first-over spot within three lengths of the lead. Ready Cash continued to advance up on the rim, gaining on Up And Quick with every stride. As the field turned for home, Ready Cash went offstride and took himself out of contention. That miscue gave Maharajah the room he needed to spring from the pocket and power past the pacesetter.
Up And Quick stayed for second with Yarrah Boko finishing third.
Stefan Hultman trains Maharajah, an eight-year-old trotting stallion owned by Sweden's Travkompaniets Stall Ab.