Iceberg Lp powers to Italian Derby victory

by Thomas Hedlund

Despite racing three-wide for much of the final 900 meters, Iceberg Lp proved strongest in the stretch to capture Sunday’s (Oct. 11) $900,000 Italian Derby at Turin.

Andrea Guzzinati launched Iceberg Lp (Face Time Bourbon—Beautiful Lp) from third-over with 900 meters remaining. The colt was able to get a brief breather around the final turn before Guzzinati asked him for his best in the stretch.

Il Trio Jet (Wishing Stone) fought bravely and resisted for a long time, but ultimately had to settle for second.

Ideal Turdance (El Ideal) finished third, while Iambellesi Tq (El Ideal) was trapped in the pocket with plenty left and finished fifth.

Iceberg Lp stopped the clock in a 1:57.1 mile rate for 2,100 meters, recording his seventh victory in 15 career starts.

The 3-year-old colt is trained by Walter Zanetti, who has seen his horse develop into a major player in the Italian division.

Iceberg Lp was a massive 143-1 outsider when he won his Italian Derby elimination, but bettors had considerably more confidence in him Sunday, sending him off at approximately 10-1. Last year, Iceberg Lp showed promise by winning an elimination of the €20,900 Anact Stakes Plus before finishing fifth in the Group 1 final.

Sunday’s victory was by far the biggest of his career.

ISCHIA JOY WINS OAKS DEL TROTTO THE HARD WAY

Ischia Joy did it the hard way in Sunday’s $300,000 Oaks del Trotto for 3-year-old fillies at Turin.

After sitting third-over early, Francesco Facci moved Ischia Joy (Mister J.P.—Joy) first-over with a little more than one lap remaining.

Antonio Di Nardo had taken Ingrid Am to the lead early, and the pacesetter continued to fight when Ischia Joy came calling in the stretch. But Ischia Joy kept grinding away and finally took command shortly before the wire, winning in a 1:56.1 mile rate.

The filly is trained by Erik Bondo and had previously gained valuable experience racing in France, although without producing any major victories. She finished seventh in the semi-classic Prix Roquépine and also seventh in the Group 3 Prix d’Istres.

The Oaks del Trotto victory represents a major breakthrough and is easily the biggest win of her career.

FRAGOLINO ROSSO CRUSHES RIVALS IN EUROPEAN DERBY

Mamma mia!

That was the reaction from the Italian commentators as Fragolino Rosso stormed past local favorite Guglielmo Jet in the stretch of Sunday’s $440,000 Grand Prix de l’U.E.T. at Vinovo in Turin.

For Robin Bakker and trainer Paul Hagoort, the European Derby became another unforgettable triumph. Fragolino Rosso (Booster Winner) is becoming accustomed to winning Europe’s biggest races. After capturing the German Derby earlier this season, the German-bred colt added the European Derby for 4-year-olds with a performance that further established him among the best of his generation. And he certainly didn’t get anything for free.

Bakker was unable to find a position in the outer flow after the start and was forced to race three-wide, hoping eventually to reach the outside of leader Guglielmo Jet. Alessandro Gocciadoro had sent Guglielmo Jet (Maharajah) away sharply, holding off both Maestro Vrie and Swedish Derby winner Mellby Narrow in the early battle. Maestro Vrie broke stride while fighting for the lead. Milady Josselyn, driven by Adrian Kolgjini, also left quickly on the inside, but Kolgjini waved Gocciadoro through after 250 meters, allowing Guglielmo Jet to take command. Mellby Narrow was slightly interfered with by Maestro Vrie, just enough to force Daniel Wäjersten to abandon his early attempt for the lead. After 400 meters, Wäjersten moved his colt back to the outside, looking to get ahead of Fragolino Rosso, who was still parked three-wide.

The pace was fierce, and Mellby Narrow paid a price for the effort required to reach the first-over position. After eventually finding second-over cover, he had little left to offer in the stretch. But Fragolino Rosso had endured an even more demanding trip.

He was forced to use considerable energy before finally reaching the outside of Guglielmo Jet.

Around the final turn, the leading pair appeared ready to draw away from the rest of the field. Guglielmo Jet wasn’t trotting perfectly, but Gocciadoro managed to open a couple of lengths on the favorite turning for home. For a moment, the Italian colt looked like the winner. Then Fragolino Rosso came again.

Bakker’s colt dug deep, gradually reeled in Guglielmo Jet and took command in the stretch. As Fragolino Rosso went past, Guglielmo Jet broke stride and was disqualified.

Fragolino Rosso captured the European Derby in a 1:54.3 mile rate for 2,100 meters.

Ginger Gio (Face Time Bourbon), trained by Sébastien Guarato, inherited second following Guglielmo Jet’s disqualification.

The victory extended Fragolino Rosso’s remarkable winning streak to 12 consecutive races. He can now call himself a two-time Derby champion, having previously won the €278,760 German Derby in a record 1:54 mile rate for 1,900 meters.

FRANK GIO STUNS DON FANUCCI ZET IN UET ELITE CIRCUIT FINAL

For the second consecutive year, Don Fanucci Zet appeared headed for victory in the $550,000 UET Elite Circuit final at Turin. But an extraordinary performance from Frank Gio denied the Swedish star. Sunday’s final was a fiercely contested affair, particularly during the opening 600 meters. Don Fanucci Zet (Hard Livin) reached the lead relatively easily, with Daim Brodda and Frank Gio (Face Time Bourbon) both leaving aggressively from outside posts.

Daim Brodda broke after approximately 100 meters, but Matthieu Abrivard, driving the Sébastien Guarato-trained Frank Gio, had no intention of allowing Don Fanucci Zet an easy trip. After 400 meters, Frank Gio launched a powerful challenge for the lead. Don Fanucci Zet fought him off, and Abrivard eventually backed into the pocket.

But he didn’t stay there long. With 1,300 meters remaining, Abrivard elected to leave the pocket and move behind Go On Boy (Password) instead.

It seemed a risky decision at the time. But with 500 meters to go, it became obvious that Frank Gio had something special left. He came after Don Fanucci Zet again, applying serious pressure to the Swedish leader. Don Fanucci Zet appeared to have regained control at the top of the stretch, but Frank Gio simply refused to give up. Not only did he hold off Go On Boy’s challenge, he also managed to get past Don Fanucci Zet shortly before the wire.

Frank Gio won in a 1:55.3 mile rate for 2,100 meters.

“Today he was exceptionally strong, but he’s simply a champion,” Abrivard said afterward. “And we have to remember that he’s still a young horse compared with many of these rivals.”

Trainer Sébastien Guarato was brief in his post-race interview in front of the Turin crowd, but echoed Abrivard’s assessment.

Frank Gio, he said, is a champion.

Go On Boy finished a narrowly beaten second, just ahead of Don Fanucci Zet in third.

Remarkably, Sunday’s triumph was Frank Gio’s first victory of the season. His 2025 campaign had included victories in the €300,000 Prix Ourasi, €120,000 Prix Charles Tiercelin, and €90,000 Prix de Milan. As a 3-year-old, Frank Gio captured the Group 1 €154,000 Gran Premio Carlo Marangoni and the €120,000 Prix Pierre Plazen at Vincennes. He also finished second in the Italian Derby.

Although he had been winless this season, his performances had been anything but disappointing. In January, he finished fourth in the Prix d’Amérique. In May, he was runner-up to Free Time Jepson in the Lotteria at Naples, and in September he finished third in the Grand Prix de Wallonie at Mons. On Sunday, everything came together. And it took one of the most remarkable performances of the European season to defeat Don Fanucci Zet and Go On Boy.

MENZA MAKES IT 15 WINS IN 16 STARTS

Menza continues to dominate Denmark’s 3-year-old division.

On Sunday (Oct. 11), the Gordon Dahl-trained son of Readly Express recorded his 15th victory in just 16 career starts with a wire-to-wire triumph in the $165,000 Danish Trotting Kriterium.

Birger Jørgensen sent Menza straight to the lead when the gate released the field, and for much of the race there was little drama. But the finish turned out to be considerably more exciting than expected. Magic Speed (Maharajah) had enjoyed a perfect pocket trip, and when Stefan Persson tipped him to the outside at the top of the stretch, he began closing on the heavy favorite.

Menza responded, but this time he had to dig deep. The favorite managed to hold off Magic Speed, winning in a 1:58.2 mile rate for 2,500 meters.

“Today I didn’t have many options out there,” Jørgensen said. “Once he grabs the bit, I have a hard time getting him to relax again, and that means he sometimes uses his energy a little too early. You could actually see that toward the end.

“He does what he can, and I don’t think either of us did very much. Both Stefan Persson and I were just hoping we’d reach the wire first, but fortunately I came out on top.”

Jørgensen has driven countless outstanding horses during his long career, but he remains reluctant to compare Menza with the best of them.

“I’ve driven a great many very good horses, and I’m so tired of having to rank them against each other,” he said. “I’ve also had horses who performed exceptionally well at 2, 3, and 4.

“No, I don’t want to rank them. But he has to be one of the better ones. I certainly think he is.”