‘Zet’ shines in Norway, ‘Hoist’ repeats in Finland, Gocciadoro sweeps Naples features
by Thomas Hedlund
Veteran star Don Fanucci Zet reminded the European trotting world he still belongs among the elite with a dominant victory in Sunday’s (July 5) $160,000 Ulf Thoresen Grand International at Jarlsberg.
Driven by Örjan Kihlström, the 10-year-old son of Hard Livin overcame a demanding first-over journey to overpower a deep international field.
Don Fanucci Zet left alertly from post 7, but Executiv Ek was quickest from the inside and secured the lead for Alessandro Gocciadoro. Betting Pacer settled second-over for Björn Goop, while Get A Wish enjoyed the pocket trip behind the leader.
Kihlström was left parked every step of the way, yet Don Fanucci Zet simply proved too strong.
Behind the winner, the race tightened dramatically in the stretch as Get A Wish angled off the rail and Daim Brodda finally found racing room after sitting locked along the pylons. None, however, could threaten the Daniel Redén trainee, who drew away impressively despite the taxing trip.
Replay here.
The victory was worth approximately NOK 800,000 and added another chapter to one of Scandinavia’s most remarkable careers.
“I actually shed a little tear,” Redén said. “It’s been an unbelievable journey, starting with buying his dam at a Lexington sale when I thought I was going to prove I could train pacers. That didn’t work out, but everything that came afterward has been incredible. And I have to say — we also have the best driver the sport has ever seen. Örjan doesn’t make mistakes. I could see he was actually rating the horse while sitting first-over, saving his speed. I’ve been to Jarlsberg many times without winning this race, so this means a great deal.”
MASSIMO HOIST REPEATS IN FINLAND’S SUUR-HOLLOLA-AJO
Finland’s top older trotter, Massimo Hoist, successfully defended his title in Sunday’s (July 5) $160,000 Suur-Hollola-Ajo at Lahti with another front-end masterpiece.
After advancing through one of four elimination heats earlier the day before, Hannu Torvinen quickly sent the son of Muscle Hill to the lead in the championship. Corazon Combo raced first-over while Run For Royalty tracked second-over, and Amanda Deo enjoyed the pocket trip.
None of it mattered.
Massimo Hoist kicked away in the stretch to score in a 1:55.3 mile rate for 2,140 meters, with Amanda Deo finishing second. Main Stage rallied strongly from fifth-over, circling three-wide throughout the final lap to finish third for Santtu Raitala.
Replay here.
The victory made it back-to-back Suur-Hollola-Ajo titles for Massimo Hoist, whose dam, Venice, also captured the prestigious Finnish event in both 2016 and 2017.
GOCCIADORO STABLE CAPTURES BOTH NAPLES FEATURES
The powerful Alessandro Gocciadoro stable swept Sunday’s (July 5) two major stakes at Garigliano, with Il Trio Jet and In the Night Gar giving the Italian conditioner a memorable afternoon.
In the $180,000 Gran Premio Città di Napoli (Group 1), Il Trio Jet (Wishing Stone) controlled the race from the front for Santo Mollo. The 3-year-old opened a commanding advantage down the backstretch before holding safely in the lane to win by three-quarters-of-a-length in a 1:57.2 mile rate for 2,100 meters.
It was his second consecutive Group 1 victory after capturing the Gran Premio Nazionale in his previous start.
The filly division of the $75,000 Gran Premio Città di Napoli also went to the Gocciadoro barn as Federico Esposito guided In the Night Gar (Victor Gio) to victory.
After moving first-over approaching the final turn, In the Night Gar wore down pacesetter Irma Ferm through the stretch, with both fillies stopping the clock in 1:55.1. Earlier this season, In the Night Gar captured the $200,000 Breeders Course Final at Solvalla.
FRENCH STARS ASSEMBLE FOR PRIX DE WASHINGTON
Four of this year’s French Elitlopp participants headline Saturday’s (July 11) $125,000 Prix de Washington over the mile at Enghien.
Idao de Tillard, Go On Boy, Jabalpur, and Keep Going all return to action in one of France’s premier speed tests, joined by accomplished performers Inmarosa, Lovino Bello, and Fulton. Recent winners of the race include Go On Boy (2025), Hohneck (2024), and Etonnant (2023).
REDÉN TO DRIVE FRANCESCO ZET HIMSELF
One of Saturday’s most intriguing storylines comes at Årjäng, where Daniel Redén will drive Francesco Zet himself for the first time in the champion’s career in the $100,000 Årjängs Stora Sprinterlopp.
Redén had hoped to put former mentor Stefan Melander in the sulky as a tribute to the trainer who helped shape his career. However, Swedish licensing regulations require drivers in major stakes to have made a minimum number of recent starts, leaving Melander ineligible. Instead, Redén will climb into the bike himself as Francesco Zet faces defending champion Gio Cash in one of Sweden’s marquee sprint events.
