by Thomas Hedlund

Alessandro Gocciadoro-trained Vivid Wise As (Yankee Glide) started from post one behind the gate
when the $160,000 Gran Premio Costa Azzurra was held in Turin on Monday (April 10) afternoon and the post position didn’t mean that the race’s first choice went to the front. Instead, Vivid Wise As found a position fourth on the inside while stablemate Zacon Gio hit the lead after a quarter of a mile.

Gocciadoro sat in the bike behind the leader and on the duo’s outside Capital Mail tried to put some pressure on Zacon Gio. Vivid Wise As’ way to victory was solved in the last turn when driver Matthieu Abrivard could leave the inside position and send his horse to full attack in the turn.

Zacon Gio and Capital Mail battled in front and the latter disarmed the leader with 50 meters to go, but then
Vivid Wise As showed up and finished quickly for the win in 1:54.2.

Vivid Wise As has this year claimed two big titles in Europe. In the Criterium de Vitesse on March 12, he had to attack from behind and the distinctive front runner showed that he can beat the best horses in Europe even from other positions.

MILLIONDOLLARRHYME TO PARALYMPIATRAVET

The Fredrik B. Larsson-trained Milliondollarrhyme (Ready Cash) has been a big factor in the business for many years now and when an elimination to the Paralympiatravet was held at Solvalla racetrack on Sunday (April 9) afternoon, he showed regenerated form from his younger days.

Larsson sent his horse to the lead in the 1.3 miles long race and had to defend himself when outside trotter Missle Hill tried for the front position at the first back stretch.

Milliondollarrhyme controlled the race all the way towards the wire and held on by a head when Mellby Jinx finished quickly in the stretch.

The 9-year-old Milliondollarrhyme is well-merited and can look back at three entries in the Elitloppet at Solvalla for his career. Now he’s ready for the big final of the Paralympiatravet at Åby on May 6.

The mile rate for the son of Ready Cash was 1:55.2.

On Monday’s (April 10) race card at Halmstad racetrack in Sweden, Per Nordström’s 6-year-old Önas Prince (Chocolatier) showed that he will be ready for another try in the Elitloppet. Önas Prince made a break in the last turn in last year’s final of the Elitloppet and it seems like Nordström has succeeded in putting his horse in even better shape this season. The first-over win in 1:51.4 proved that Önas Prince will be a great card to play when the Elitloppet happens. He hasn’t received a ticket for the race yet, but he will most probably be invited by Solvalla very soon.