by Thomas Hedlund

Alessandro Gocciadoro completely dominates Italian harness racing and this past week turned out to be a special one in his career as a trainer.

On Sunday (Oct. 29) afternoon, Gocciadoro-trained Vivid Wise As (Yankee Glide), the never ending machine in European harness racing, easily claimed the $230,000 Gran Premio delle Nazione in Milan. Driver Matthieu Abrivard hit the front position at an early stage and the opponents couldn’t follow when Abrivard asked for some more gas in the last turn.

Vivid Wise As won in a moderate mile rate of 1:58 over 1.3 miles. It was the 20th group 1 victory in his career.

First-over trotter Go On Boy held strongly as runner up ahead of Heliade du Goutier.

Gocciadoro would experience even more success this week. His E3 and Derby winner Expo Wise As (Ready Cash) played with his opponents in the final of the $310,000 Orsi Mangelli for 3-year-old trotters.

Expo Wise As controlled the race from the lead with Gocciadoro in the bike. The trainer’s Edy Girifalco Gio finished second, 2 lengths behind the winner while third stablemate Eolo Jet was third.

Expo Wise As won in 1:56.1.

The $85,000 Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli Filly, for 3-year-old fillies ended with further success for Gocciadoro’s stable. Maurizio Biasuzzi drove Euphoria Bi (Donato Hanover) and the duo was outstanding from the lead in 1:56.3. Stablemate Ete Jet finished third for Pietro Gubellini. Elettra d’Esi was runner up and thereby broke Gocciadoro’s wish of claiming all three top positions in the two races.

Still, one must be impressed by the yellow-suited trainer and driver from Italy, especially his ability to adapt his horses to racing in different conditions, all over Europe.

WINTER MEETING IN PARIS IS ON

The massive meeting at Vincennes, Paris started on Thursday (Nov. 2) and traditionally, the $95,000 Prix de Cevennes was scheduled during the first day. Some well-merited trotters battled over 1.7 miles and some drama unfolded before the winner was crowned.

Hokkaido Jiel, who had a great last meeting and spring in Paris, finished best from second over, but the judges ended up taking him down for interference.

Second at the wire, and winner of the race, was Bilo Jepson (Timoko) and Alexandre Abrivard. Bilo Jepson finished quickly after a ground-saving trip and came home in a mile rate of 1:56.4 over 1.7 miles.

The road towards the 2024 Prix d’Amérique begins with the $125,000 Prix de Bretagne over 2,700 meters on Nov. 19, followed by the $125,000 Prix du Bourbonnais over 2,850 meters on Dec. 10.

ITALIAN JACKPOT IN OSLO

Gocciadoro-trained Delicious Gar (Father Patrick), owned by NBA star Nikola Djokic proved best when the $35,000 Axel Jensens Minnelopp for 4-year-old mares was held at Bjerke racetrack in Oslo, Norway on Saturday (Nov. 4) afternoon. From second over, Delicious Gar swept the field just before the last turn and she was outstanding in a 6-length win in a mile rate of 1:55.3 over 1.3 miles.

The $55,000 Axel Jensens Minneslopp was held over the mile and the first half of the race became a speedy show with Born In Bergen in front with a spicy Thewinnertakeitall on the outside. The fast half-mile set the table for hungry Italian horses far back in the two wide path. Gocciadoro attacked three wide with Doctor Gio and Carl Johan Jepson was given perfect cover throughout the last turn with Demon (Royal Blessed). The Italian-bred trotter, trained by Gennaro Casillo, sprinted to a safe win in 1:53.2 and claimed his fourth consecutive win.