Coktail Jet, a stallion that showcased the success of mixing American and French bloodlines, has passed away in France at the age of 28.
Coktail Jet was a top trotter in his generation. He won both the 1996 Prix d’Amerique and Elitlopp at age six, and, as a result, received an invitation to the 1996 Breeders Crown Open Trot. Based on his exploits in Europe, he was the race-time betting favourite in the ‘Crown,’ but couldn’t overcome starting from Post 9. The race was won by CR Kay Suzie and Coktail Jet finished sixth after getting stuck in a sluggish second tier and spotting the pacesetting ‘Suzie’ almost nine lengths at the half.
Coktail Jet was retired with money-winnings of 1.9 million euros (approximately $2.9 million). Coktail Jet took his success on the track to the breeding shed and became equally accomplished and created generations of horses with mixed French-American blood. He is a son of the French stallion Quouky Williams and is out of the Super Bowl mare Armbro Glamour. His fourth dam was Cassin Hanover, who produced 1965 Elitlopp winner Elma.
Coktail Jet was bred by the partnership of Jean-Pierre Dubois and owner Daniel Wildenstein. Dubois and Wildenstein campaigned him on the track as well.
For a couple of years during the 1980s, the French breeding association permitted a certain number of American-blooded trotters to be bred and registered in France. Coktail Jet sired 1,732 foals in France and his top performer was Love You, a three-time French champion who has become known in North America as the sire of stakes winner International Moni.
Pleas join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Coktail Jet.
(Harnessracing.com)