“When I hear the word Varenne I always add Great in front of it. Varenne was by far the best horse of his era and a decade later everyone will now probably agree. His World record has stood for almost 10 years. It’s an amazing achievement."
One of harness racing's top drivers, Jody Jamieson knows a thing or two about Mikkeli, Finland's lightning-quick five-eighths mile racing surface. Ten years ago, Jamieson raced at Mikkeli as part of the 2001 World Driving Championship - which he won. One year later and nine years ago today, Varenne obliterated the trotting world record with a scintillating 1:51.3 score in the 2002 St. Michel.
On Sunday, top Eurpoean trotter Rapide Lebel will aim to unseat Varenne as the fastest trotter in Mikkeli's history. Varenne's 1:51.3 record was the fastest ever on a five-eighths until Arch Madness' 1:51 mile at Mohegan Sun Pocono in 2010. Jamieson feels now is the time for Rapide Lebel to take his shot at the record.
"Rapide Lebel's career is now at its peak point. If he has a chance of breaking the record, now is the time to do it," Jamieson told Finnish media. "In my opinion, any horse that is capable of challenging Varenne's record [at Mikkeli] has to be an extremely talented horse. Although it has to be said that everything has to be in order with the horse come Sunday.”
Eric Raffin will once again drive the Sebastian Guarato-trained Rapide Lebel (Passionnant - Koranie des Noes), who most recently won the 2,100 metre KYMI Grand Prix in Finland on June 18 over Lisa America and Amour Ami, owned by Vancouver Canucks' Daniel & Henrik Sedin.
Amour Ami will line up to Rapide Lebel's inside on Sunday in the field of 8, with Amour Ami drawing Post 2 and Rapide Lebel in the 3 spot.
“Post three does not hamper Rapide Lebel's chances," continued Jamieson. "At Mikkeli posts 1 to 5 are good to start from and you can still have a shot for the record. You have to be able to lead the pack in the first turn. I have always said that at Mikkeli you have to give everything you've got during the first few hundred metres.
"Finns take great pride about this event and their top drivers are itching to prove a point. I drove against Antti Teivainen and Mika Forss when I was in Finland and these drivers won’t give up easily. They will give their everything for the St.Michel title. Mikkeli is renowned for its speedy surface and the stretch is as fast as it can be. You can’t save anything just the end of the race. It’s all about speed in Mikkeli.”
Also in the field of trotters is Reven d'Amour, the son of Revenue that finished second in the 2010 Maple Leaf Trot and third in the Nat Ray.
St. Michel 2011 - Mikkeli, Finland - One Mile (1,609 m)
1. Renommée d’Obret / Pierre Vercruysse
2. Amour Ami / Mika Forss
3. Rapide Lebel / Eric Raffin
4. Target Hoss / Jorma Kontio
5. Express Type / Antti Teivainen
6. Womanizer / Tommi Kylliäinen
7. Merckx Ok / Kari Rosimo
8. Reven d’Amour / Fredrik B. Larsson