by Thomas Hedlund

Richard Westerink-trained Etonnant (Timoko) tried his luck among several top trotters when the $125,000 Prix Kerjacques was contest at Vincennes on Saturday (April 8). And the title defender of the Elitloppet showed that he still can compete on his highest level against the elite.

Etonnant didn’t get an easy first kilometer in the Prix Kerjacques. Anthony Barrier had a pretty bad start with Westerink’s horse and Etonnant had to follow three wide during the race’s first section. When Hussard du Landret hit the lead after a kilometer, Barrier found space second over where Etonnant could rest until the end of the uphill part of Vincennes’ track. When the three wide attack began, Etonnant easily disarmed leader Hussard du Landret, but strong finishers Hokkaido Jiel and Usain Töll challenged the new leader at the top of the stretch. Etonnant seemed beaten with 100 meters to go. Usain Töll finished most strongly of the two challengers, but on the inside, Etonnant came back and claimed the trophy in a strong mile rate of 1:54.3 over 1.6 miles.

Usain Töll was second and Hokkaido Jiel third.

Prix Kerjacques replay.

GOCCIADORO SHOW IN KARLSTAD

Alessandro Gocciadoro’s spring tour in the Nordic countries in Europe has begun and on Friday afternoon (April 7), his horses impressed a lot as the Italian trainer and driver claimed the two biggest races on the card.

Färjestad racetrack in Karlstad, Sweden, plays host to the traditional Easter races on the Friday and Gocciadoro started his race day by being runner up behind Elitloppet invited San Moteur (Panne de Moteur) with his Bengurion Jet. Bengurion Jet was the early leader of the race and Björn Goop took over that position with a lap to go. San Moteur looked fresh and sound as he cruised to a safe win in his first start since August last year.

Then the Gocciadoro show began and when the 5-year-old mares battled in the $35,000 Folke Hjalmarssons Minneslopp, the trainer showed the racing fans that he hasn’t come back to Sweden without ammunition. Clarissa (Exploit Caf) came from Italy with a good reputation and despite having post nine, Gocciadoro wanted to be in the front at an early stage with his horse. Clarissa pushed hard on leader Faeza Zet during the race’s last kilometer and in the last turn, Clarissa more or less had settled the race. She flew home in a very strong mile rate of 1:52.3 over 1.3 miles. It is doubtful there is any better 5-year-old mare in Europe at this time. Clarissa will be heard of many times again this summer, that’s for sure.

In the $65,000 Prins Carl Philips Jubileumspokal, open for all 5-year-olds, Iznogoud Am made an interesting comeback. Stefan P Petterssons’ trotter was involved in a very fast opening, where leader Seven Nation Army (American bred and trained in USA by Ray Schnittker) and driver Bo Westergaard were determined to keep the lead. A :26 quarter is nothing common in Swedish races, but Seven Nation Army was pushed to hit that mark by outside horse Iznogoud Am and the quick opening opened up for Gocciadoro’s Jimmy Ferro B.R. (Love You), who controlled the race from outside the leader when Iznogoud Am opted for a pocket trip after 500 meters.

Seven Nation Army showed that he is brave enough to fight back when Jimmy Ferro B.R. tried to get advantage of the race at the top of the stretch, but Gocciadoro’s horses claimed the two big trophies on the card as Jimmy Ferro B.R. won in 1:51.4 over 1,640 meters.

Seven Nation Army deserves a gold star for his achievement in the race as the runner-up.