Trainer Rene Allard is not convinced a horse needs weeks of special training to win a five-mile race

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He’ll try to prove it Sunday afternoon at Sulky Quebec in the centennial edition of Le 5 Milles, Quebec City’s signature race, which goes for a total purse of more than $20,000, making it the richest in the province this year.

The five-mile, 10-lap marathon has attracted a field of 15 including 2008 winner MG Éclair and Allard’s entry, Heartthrob, a 9-year-old pacer he bought privately just this week. The horse raced Tuesday at Georgian Downs for his previous owners, closing from ninth to finish fifth in a mile race for $5,000 claimers.

“I don’t think a horse needs special training,” Allard said. “He just needs to be made for it, and I think he’s one. He’s got a calm temperament, he’s sound, he’s not hard on himself and he always finishes the miles well.”

Allard has finished third twice in Le 5 Milles. It’s a race the Quebec native would dearly love to win, in front of friends and family he sees too rarely since moving to Ontario last year.

Heartthrob won’t be his only entrant Sunday. Allard also is racing Blissed Out and Royal Becquet in a $9,000 invitation pace, Titan Park in a $9,000 invitation trot and Long Beach Tea in Le 5 Tours, a two-and-a-half mile race.

“I’d really like to win at least one for my great friend Jean-Marc Bouchard, who died of cancer Dec. 10,” Allard said.

Allard will also race a handful of horse in distance events as part of Saturday's Xtreme Horsepower harness racing event at Georgian Downs.

(a Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)