by Thomas Hedlund

It’s hard to think that more money, bigger purses have been offered in total during three days, in three different European countries, than what is a fact for tonight, Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 11-13).

Tonight starts with some hot races in Paris, at Vincennes where the $550,000 U.E.T. Elite Circuit Finale attracts some of the very best older trotters in Europe 2024. The only disappointment is that Horsy Dream, who has dominated big time during the season, is sick and had to be scratched from the race. Besides that, top names like Borups Victory, Idao de Tillard and Francesco Zet gather behind the gate at Vincennes and the spectators in Paris will get acquainted with at least two new names on the circuit. Borups Victory and Francesco Zet are both good enough for the big races during Vincennes’ winter meeting, starting next month. Later that same night, 4-year-old trotters qualified for the $440,000 Grand Prix de l’U.E.T. will battle over 2,100 meters and we can state that there is a small disappointment even in this event since Timo Nurmos’ star Fame And Glory has to stay in Sweden due to sickness. Still, the race is spectacular with contenders like East Asia, Krack Time Atout, Koctel du Dain and exotic contribution, Swiss trotter Kalattine.

$550,000 U.E.T. ELITE CIRCUIT FINALE

2,100 meters

Horse — Driver

1. Ampia Mede Sm — Theo Duvaldestin

2. Go On Boy — Romain Derieux

3. Idao de Tillard — Clement Duvaldestin

4. Borups Victory — Daniel Wäjersten

5. Elvis du Vallon — David Thomain

6. Ganay de Banville — Jean-Michel BAZIRE

7. Emeraude de Bais — Franck NIVARD

8. Inmarosa — Leo Abrivard

9. Oracle Tile — Björn Goop

10. Vivid Wise As — Matthieu Abrivard

11. Banderas Bi — Alessandro Gocciadoro

12. Francesco Zet — Örjan Kihlström

13. Hooker Berry — Nicolas Bazire

$440,000 GRAND PRIX DE L’U.E.T.

2,100 meters

Horse — Driver

1. Kalattine — Henri Turrettini

2. Kuiper — Daniel Wäjersten

3. Krack Time Atout — Paul-Philippe Ploquin

4. East Asia — Alessandro Gocciadoro

5. Epic Kronos — Örjan Kihlström

6. Just Like Heaven — Magnus Teien Gundersen

7. Fame And Glory — Scratched

8. Koctel du Dain — David Thomain

9. Kaviarissime — Matthieu Mottier

10. Kaporal des Forges — Eric Raffin

11. Kiara de Vandel — Alexandre Abrivard

12. Powwow — Franck Nivard

The big-purses show continues in Sweden, at Solvalla on Saturday (Oct. 12) when the best Swedish-bred 3-year-olds have their biggest event for the year.

Fillies battle in the $600,000 Oaks while the $800,000 Kriteriet is open for all horses.

The Oaks seems to be an open story with several trotters with great chances to win and trainer Daniel Wäjersten, who participates in both big races at Vincennes on Friday night, has three fillies in the field of 12 horses and he opted to drive Propulsion daughter Vivillion, while Ulf Ohlsson drives Screen Time Limit and Per Linderoth sits behind Beedrill.

Wäjersten looks to grab his first Trainer of the Year award in Sweden after his tremendous season, in battle with Daniel Redén, who always delivers strong results, but who will stand aside when the two biggest races for 3-year-olds are underway Saturday. Wäjersten on the other hand, has three chances even in the Kriteriet and all his shots impressed in the eliminations, respectively, so the weekend can be something really extra for the eminent trainer.

Bullet The Bluesky, Good Lord and Lando Mearas are his weapons in the Kriteriet.

$600,000 OAKS

2,140 meters

Horse — Sire — Driver

1. Vivillion — Propulsion — Daniel Wäjersten

2. Lovebird Journey — Chapter Seven — Magnus A Djuse

3. Matchmadeinheaven — S.J.’s Caviar — Santtu Raitala

4. Screen Time Limit — Face Time Bourbon — Ulf Ohlsson

5. Ecurie Brodda — Ready Cash — Mats E Djuse

6. Ready To Run H.C. — Nuncio — Anders Eriksson

7. Tangerina — Perfect Spirit — Per Lennartsson

8. Oriana Boko — Father Patrick — Robin Bakker

9. Olivia Bros — Muscle Mass — Björn Goop

10. Great Pride — Maharajah — Claes Sjöström

11. Beedrill — Muscle Hill — Per Linderoth

12. S.G. Empress — Readly Express — Örjan Kihlström

$800,000 KRITERIET

2,640 meters

Horse — Sire — Driver

1. Bullet The Bluesky — Readly Express — Daniel Wäjersten

2. Lando Mearas — Walner — Mats E Djuse

3. Magic In — Face Time Bourbon — Per Nordström

4. Phantom Express — Readly Express — Ulf Ohlsson

5. Preacherman — Father Patrick — Stefan Persson

6. Ironic Man — Readly Express — Erik Adielsson

7. Facetime Dream — Face Time Bourbon — Magnus A Djuse

8. Romulus Tooma — S.J.’s Caviar — Björn Goop

9. Good Lord — Readly Express — Örjan Kihlström

10. Walmann — Walner — Claes Sjöström

11. Golden Sunrise — Readly Express — Conrad Lugauer

12. Mondo Diablo — Googoo Gaagaa — Peter Untersteiner

And the big race-weekend ends in Italy, in Rome where the 3-year-old Italian-bred horses chase $850,000 in the Derby Italiano del Trotto and $270,000 in the Oaks del Trotto for fillies.

Alessandro Gocciadoro is the obvious dominant in his home county when the stakes races are on the menu and the yellow-suited trainer and driver has nine horses in total in the two events and he has attracted top Swedish drivers Magnus A Djuse and Örjan Kihlström to Rome on Sunday (Oct. 13).

Sire Face Time Bourbon will probably be the father of the favorites in both races. French trained (Sebastien Guarato, Face Time Bourbon’s trainer) Frank Gio, who is the most well-merited trotter in the Derby enters the race with strong performances in his back pocket and Gocciadoro’s Fanny Gio will get attention from the bettors in the Oaks.

$270,000 OAKS DEL TROTTO

1,640 meters

Horse — Sire — Driver

1. Funny Gio — Face Time Bourbon — Alessandro Gocciadoro

2. Flores de Campo — Ringostarr Treb — G. Lo Verde

3. Fort Washakie — Ideale Luis — G. De Filippis

4. Fragola di No — Nad al Sheba — Fr. Facci

5. Francy Caf — Nad al Sheba — V.P. Dell’Annunziata

6. Fast Equos Jet — Readly Express — Roberto Vecchione

7. Follia d’Esi — Ringostarr Treb — M. Stefani

8. Fedora Degli Dei — Varenne — Andrea Guzzinati (Gocciadoro)

9. Fenicia As — Readly Express — Antonio di Nardo

10. Finance Lady Par — Victor Gio — G. Irlombaro

11. Fantastic Gio — Face Time Bourbon — Magnus A Djuse (Gocciadoro)

12. Fanny Breed — Napoleon Bar — Enrico Bellei

13. Filly Mail — Readly Express — Santo Mollo

14. Flavia Bros — Face Time Bourbon — Örjan Kihlström (Gocciadoro)

$850,000 DERBY DEL TROTTO

2,100 meters

Horse — Sire — Driver

1. Feldenkrais Pal — Trixton — Robin Bakker

2. Fly Top — Tesoro Degli Dei — Magnus A Djuse (Gocciadoro)

3. Far West Bi — Muscle Hill — Roberto Vecchione

4. First Of Mind — Face Time Bourbon — Antonio di Nardo (Gocciadoro)

5. Frank Gio — Face Time Bourbon — Matthieu Abrivard

6. Fakir Roc — Wishing Stone — Santo Mollo

7. Falco Killer Gar — Varenne — Alessandro Gocciadoro

8. Ferahan As — Maharajah — M. Minopoli, Jr

9. Fellow Wise As — Maharajah — Örjan Kihlström (Gocciadoro)

10. Feudale Degli Dei — Brillantissime — Mischa Brouwer

11. Funny Girl — Vitruvio — Andrea Farolfi

12. Fuente Cas — Napoleon — G. Di Nargo

13. Frankie LJ — Readly Express — Andrea Guzzinati (Gocciadoro)

14. Fortunadrago Font — Quite Easy — Enrico Bellei

LÖNBORG’S BIG TRIUMPH

Danish trainer and driver Michael Lönborg experienced a nice day at the track when Charlottenlund in Copenhagen played host to the $160,000 Danish Kriterium for 3-year-old trotters on Sunday (Oct. 6) afternoon.

Lönborg’s Karat C.N. (Express Bourbon) was outdoing his crop friends when the best horses among the 3-year-olds gathered for the big final Sunday. Lönborg drove a perfect race with his Karat C.N. He made sure that big favorite Kungfufightning had to make a three wide initial kilometer before Lönborg gave cover for his horse with 1,500 meters to go. When the final attack was made 500 meters to go, Karat C.N. flew on the outside and got a big advantage as the field turned for home. Karat C.N. was just wonderful to watch on the outside and it must have been a pleasurable home stretch for driver Lönborg when his horse hit the wire in a strong mile rate of 1:56.4 over 2,500 meters.

Erik Adielsson steered Adrian Kolgjini’s Kilimanjaro Face (Googoo Gaagaa) to a safe win in the $95,000 Stokriteriet for fillies earlier on the same race card in Copenhagen. After a trip in front, Kilimanjaro Face won in 1:56.1 over 1.3 miles.