by Thomas Hedlund

Alessandro Gocciadoro-trained Bepi Bi (Donato Hanover) took a safe wire-to-wire win in the $127,500 Gran Premio Memorial Giuseppe Biasuzzi in Treviso, Italy on Sunday (Oct. 17) afternoon.

Bepi Bi is one of the most interesting 4-year-olds in Europe this season and the half-brother of world champion Twister Bi (Varenne—Lorraine Bi) collected his big trophy of the year in Sunday’s race by winning in 1:54.3.

Gocciadoro claimed the title in the race for the fourth year in a row. Zaniah Bi (2018), Vitruvio (2019) and Alrajah One (2020) have all won the race previous years.

And Gocciadoro has a great chance when the $255,000 Gran Premio Delle Nazione over 1.3 miles is scheduled in Milan on Saturday (Oct. 23).

Nine horses will gather in Milan and Gocciadoro’s choice in the bike is Zaccaria Bar who starts from post 1 behind the gate, while his duo Vivid Wise As (Matthieu Abrivard) and Vitruvio (Andrea Guzzinati) begin from post 5 and 6, respectively.

Gran Premio delle Nazione 2021

Post – Horse – Sire – Driver

1. Zaccaria Bar – Ready Cash – Alessandro Gocciadoro
2. Rushmore Face – Joke Face – Edoardo Loccisano
3. Elsa de Belfonds – Tornado Bello – Nicolas Ensch
4. Atik DL – Look de Star – Manuel Pistone
5. Vivid Wise As – Yankee Glide – Matthieu Abrivard
6. Vitruvio – Adrian Chip – Andrea Guzzinati
7. Alrajah One – Maharajah – Roberto Vecchione
8. Agrado – Ganymede – Francesco Di Stefano
9. Toscarella – Varenne – Massimo Castaldo

Four in a row for Cleangame

Jean-Michel Bazire’s top gelding Cleangame (Ouragan de Celland) has made a great comeback at the tracks during the fall and in Sunday’s (Oct. 17) $173,000 Grand Prix du Sud Ouest, in Beaumont-de-Lomagne, Cleangame played with his opponents over 2,400 meters.

Bazire sent his 9-year-old gelding to position first over with 1,100 meters to go and with 600 meters remaining of the race, the duo was in front. Bazire just controlled his opponents over the long home stretch and Cleangame won easily in mile rate 1:56.

Stablemate Rebella Matters finished strongly as runner up ahead of Ce Bello Romain.

Cleangame had a long break from competition due to an injury, but now it seems like the gelding has found a top level again. Earlier this season he has claimed the $197,000 Prix d’Ete, the $115,000 Grand Prix de la Federation Regionale du nord and the $115,000 Grand Prix Anjou-Maine.

Last big battle in Sweden

The Breeders Crown for 3- and 4-year-olds ends the stake racing in Sweden and on Sunday (Oct. 24) it’s time for eliminations ahead of the Nov. 7 finals at Eskilstuna, the traditional host of the event.

The eliminations are held at Solvalla on Sunday and the race card is outstanding with all the best horses there are in every division, except for the 4-year-old colts and geldings, where the sport’s new star Calgary Games is missing due to stud work at Menhammar Stuteri.

Fans will get more than their share of entertainment from trotters Lara Boko, Red Lady Express and Good Vibes among the 3-year-old fillies. Francesco Zet, Mellby Jinx, Felix Orlando and Borups Victory in the eliminations for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Among the 4-year-olds, horses such as Honey Mearas, Önas Prince, Fifty Cent Piece, Eagle Eye Sherry, Barbro Kronos, San Moteur, Brambling, Rome Pays Off and Mister Hercules are carded.