Prix d’Amérique favorite Romain Derieux to Trav365: “Has health problems”
Published 2026-01-23 21.01
Star driver Romain Derieux is favorite in the Prix d’Amérique.
At the same time, he is seriously ill.
“I have some health problems”he writes in an SMS to Trav365.
On Sunday, the Prix d’Amérique is run at Vincennes with the equivalent of SEK 4.8 million to the winner.
French Go on Boy is one of the early favorites together with his trainer and driver Romain Derieux, who won the Elitloppet at Solvalla last year.
But now comes sad news.
“Suffering from long-term illness”
Romain Derieux, 41, will drive the grand race – despite being seriously ill.
It is the French trotting expert Yann Hayoun who writes about Derieux’s health in his tips column on Svenska Spel.
“A few days ago I learned that Romain Derieux is suffering from a long-term illness that he will have to fight for the next six months”writes Yann Hayoun, who previously worked as a manager for star drivers such as Franck Nivard, Dominik Locqueneux and Björn Goop and worked for the French trotting magazine Paris Turf. He continues:
“Go on Boy will also have my support. After reaching the Holy Grail last year with his horse, Romain Derieux is now going through the most difficult period of his life. A victory on Sunday would make his 2026 a little brighter”.
“Don’t want to talk about them”
Romain Derieux does not want to mention what kind of disease it is.
“I have some health problems, but I don’t want to talk about them right now”he writes in an SMS to Trav365.
Go on Boy’s upload has not been the best, as he had to forego the Prix de Belgique genre on January 11 due to a cough.
“Hope for the podium”
Romain Derieux is nevertheless hopeful for Sunday.
“He’s fine now and has been fine for the last two weeks. I hope to be on the podium”writes Romain Derieux.
Of the Swedish horses, he has the most respect for Daniel Redén’s Epic Kronos.
“I was very impressed by him when he won the Prix Tenor de Baune”writes Derieux.
In addition to Epic Kronos, the Swedish horses Francesco Zet, Immortal Doc and Bullet the BlueSky also start.
The Prix d’Amérique runs on Sunday at 4:20 p.m.
