MacDonell On Third Place Finish For Define The World

In Sunday's $500,000CDN Oslo Grand Prix, Canadian representative Define The World finished a strong third in his European debut for driver Paul MacDonell and

trainer John Bax.

The 2100m (a mile and three-eighths) race was won by Lou Guida's Lisa America and driver Jormo Kontio. The Italian-bred daughter of trotting superstar Varenne upset favoured Maharajah (Ørjan Kihlstrøm), who was a length back in second. Define The World was three lengths back in third. Enough Talk and Luc Ouellette finished in tenth.

Trot Insider spoke with MacDonell after the race, and the O'Brien Award winner was extremely pleased with his horse's performance.

"He raced a really good race, I can't believe how well he adapted to the distance," said MacDonell, giving full credit to the conditioning of trainer John Bax. "Even with the track off a second after a night of rain, it didn't bother him at all. He was a complete professional."

One surprise for MacDonell in his European debut - the speed of the European trotters off the gate.

"He was outsprinted by a few, which surprised me. I know my horse is quick off the gate but some of those horses are very quick," stated MacDonell. "We settled away in third and followed the eventual winner out. Even with the added distance, he trotted as strong at the end as he did at any point of the mile."

The rain may have turned away some fans, but MacDonell reports that the crowd at Bjerke was impartial and enthusiastic.

"It was a good crowd, they clapped and cheered for every horse and didn't play favourites."

MacDonell flies back to Canada on Monday morning and will be back for Monday night's card of harness racing at Woodbine Racetrack. Define The World, meanwhile, is en route to Sweden and a farm about 30 minutes away from Solvalla where in two weeks he will compete in the two-heat Elitlopp.