Two of North America's top trotters will face off against some of the best Europe has to offer in Sunday's Oslo Grand Prix in Norway
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Looking to defend his title is Canada's richest trotter of all time, Arch Madness. The eight-year-old son of Balanced Image heads into Norway in peak form, on a three-race win streak including back-to-back 1:52.2 wins at the Meadowlands for trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer and owners Marc Goldberg and Barry Goldstein's Willow Pond LLC of New York.
The rapidly improving Windsong Geant also carries Canadian hopes for trainer-driver Rick Zeron and Ontario-based owners Fred Brayford and The Brabant Stable. The five-year-old son of Kadabra made his last start on Canadian soil an impressive one, knocking off defending Horse of the Year San Pail in the Open Trot at Woodbine Racetrack.
Among the European horses likely to factor is Commander Crowe, who finished a strong third in last year's epic 2011 Breeders Crown Final. The flashy nine-year-old chestnut most recently captured the 2012 Olympic Trot in Sweden.
Sunday's Oslo Grand Prix is competed over a distance of 1 5/16 miles. The field is as follows.
1 - Roxane Griff, France - Eric Raffin
2 - Yarrah Boko, Norway - Kai Johansen
3 - Quarcio du Chene, Sweden - Bjørn Goop
4 - Timoko, France - Richard Westerink
5 - Arch Madness, USA - Trond Smedshammer
6 - Commander Crowe, Sweden - Christophe Martens
7 - Viking Frecel, Norway - Vidar Hop
8 - Windsong Geant, Canada - Rick Zeron
9 - Beanie M M, Sweden - Johnny Takter
10 - Joke Face, Sweden - Lutfi Kolgjini