by Thomas Hedlund

Alessandro Gocciadoro had a great day when the $825,000 Italian Derby was held in Rome on Sunday (Oct. 8) afternoon.

Gocciadoro’s 3-year-old top trotter Expo Wise As (Ready Cash), who won the first edition of the E3 in Sweden in July, was the heavy favorite in the Derby in Rome and when early leader Ector Francis handed over the front position to Expo Wise As after 500 meters, the race was more or less over. Expo Wise As sprinted to an outstanding win in a mile rate of 1:57.2 over 1.3 miles.

Ector Francis secured the silver medal after his pocket trip and Eminem Font finished well in third.

Gocciadoro claimed his first win in the Derby, as a driver. As a trainer he had collected two previous wins in Rome: Valchiria Op won in 2017 and Zlatan was best in 2018, with others driving.

Derby Day in Rome also included the $260,000 Oaks del Trotto for 3-year-old fillies and Gocciadoro sat in the bike behind the favorite Ete Jet, who finished well after a third over trip, but the quick finish did not end with victory. Instead, stable mate Euphoria Bi (Donato Hanover), driven by owner Mauro Biasuzzi, was crowned as a winner in the prestigious race. Biasuzzi gave his horse a perfect ground saving trip racing third on the inside and when room for an attack opened in mid-stretch, Euphoria Bi sprinted to a safe upset win in 1:56.3, ahead of stable mate Ete Jet and bronze medalist Eloida.

SUPER CARD AT SOLVALLA SATURDAY

Solvalla’s race card Saturday (Oct. 14) is probably the most interesting in the track’s history and bigger purses have previously never been paid out in Sweden.

You just have to take a look at the race program here for Solvalla’s Saturday card to be stunned by the quality of horses coming to Sweden this weekend. Besides the finals in the V75, the class races that constitute the foundation for the popular betting pool V75 every weekend, there are finals in the two biggest races for Swedish bred 3-year-olds. The $735,000 Kriteriet (race 12), an open for all 3-year-olds is normally the main act on a day like this and the $550,000 Oaks (race 10) for the fillies usually is the next big thing. But there is so much more to come for the harness racing fans on Saturday. Four-year-old European bred trotters will battle in the final of the $440,000 UET Grand Prix (race 9) and the entries list is just spectacular. Top French trotters Joyner Sport and Just A Gigolo will battle against some of the best from the northern part of the continent. Joviality for example. The Courant Stable’s home bred Chapter Seven daughter is just one of many horses that will try to best the French team and without saying too much, race 9 is probably one of the best 4-year-old races we’ll see. At least it’s one of the most exciting, in advance.

Elitloppet winner Hohneck, runner up San Moteur and the second runner up Go On Boy will all enter the $515,000 UET Elite Circuit Finale (race 7), but the probable favorite comes from Gocciadoro’s barn. Yonkers International Trot winner, Vivid Wise As, is looking to become one of the richest harness racing horses ever in Europe and so far, the 9-year-old Yankee Glide son has collected approximately $3,422,350 in his bank account. From post 1 behind the gate, Vivid Wise As will be the horse to beat, but the race includes 12 top older trotters and just as the UET Grand Prix, this race should be a thrilling event.

The Oaks (race 10) is an open story where trainer Mattias Djuse has three horses behind the gate and where Mattias’ brothers Mats and Magnus have chosen to drive for Timo Nurmos, who qualified two fillies for the final. The young Djuse brothers Mats and Magnus are both dominating the sport in Sweden as drivers while older brother Mattias is having his best year ever as a trainer. In the Oaks, Mattias can claim his third group 1-victory for the year after winning with Hustle Rain in the Sprintermästaren in July and with A Teaser in E3 in August.

Timo Nurmos is well merited when it comes to the Kriteriet (race 12) and it’s not a long shot saying that he will win the prestigious race in 2023. Nurmos’ achievement this year is quite unique. He qualified three colts for the race and all three are undefeated before Saturday’s Kriteriet. Our Pride (Maharajah) will be the favorite after six wins in six starts. Fame And Glory (Tactical Landing) is a brother to Calgary Games and has five wins in five attempts, which also is the case for Nouri di Quattro (Southwind Frank). Two of Nurmos’ trotters will be defeated for the first time. Our Pride, owned by NHL-star Nicklas Bäckström (Washington Capitals), will be the favorite in the high class 2023 Kriteriet.