Canadian trotter Windsong Geant is one step closer in his quest for glory overseas having landed in Europe on Friday
.
The Rick Zeron trainee will take on some of the sport's top trotting talents in the Oslo Grand Prix on May 13 in Norway, followed by the Elitlopp in Stockholm, Sweden on May 27.
"I haven't spoken to Al Briscoe who went with the horse, but it seems like everything went well," Zeron told the WEG Communications Department. "My assistant Bobby Coole went down to Pearson Airport [Thursday night] with Al and loaded him up and he was in great spirits. He's over there now and will be trucked over to take a boat to Norway."
Windsong Geant is certainly on top of his game after capturing the Open Handicap Trot in his most recent outing on April 23 at Woodbine, defeating reigning Horse of the Year San Pail in the process. The five-year-old son of Kadabra has won 10 races so far in his career and $386,711 in purses for The Brabant Stable of London, Ont. and Fred Brayford of Alliston, Ont.
“Right now he’s on top of his game and he’s right where I want him to be in his career,” commented Zeron. "He is just absolutely flawless. He stepped up like a real gentleman in his last start. He came out of the nine-hole, I used him a couple of times and then moved him down the lane and he held off San Pail. I knew then and there that I had a pretty good player. My horse is very versatile. I know from the experience of being over there and racing in the Elitlopp he is the perfect horse to take over.
"A lot of horses are speed horses and those are the ones that are going to get in trouble because they go very different times over there," continued the 2010 O'Brien Award winner of Horsemanship. "They go the first quarter like a bat out of hell and then the second and third [quarters] they are really just stacking themselves up going two and three-wide and just sitting there holding their position. Then just before they hit the head of the lane everybody pretty well goes as fast as they can. That's why I'm pleased with my horse because he can do that."
Zeron said his experience racing overseas in 2006 with trotting mare Snazzy Millie and watching online video of the European racing style gave him confidence in choosing to send Windsong Geant over to compete in the two signature races.
"I probably would have said no to taking him over there if I hadn't been over there racing Snazzy Millie and seeing how the racing goes and getting to know a few of the drivers. I know my horse will fit in over there. I just hope I don't draw an outside position. I hope I draw a middle position and my big horse will be on his way."
During the interview with WEG, Zeron also noted that OSS graduate Peach Martini, winner of $587,319 lifetime, is in foal to Muscles Yankee. The broodmare will be entered in the Harrisburg Sale this fall.
(With files from WEG)