Today’s Trotting Derby and Oaks highlighted a superb day of harness racing at Napoli over its 1000 meter oval.
The prestigious featured 91st edition of the Derby del Trotto (purse 1,001,000€, 2100 meters autostart, 13 starters) saw fast closing Zlatan (3m Napoleon Bar-Nastassia Bi-Toss Out) score for Giampaolo Minnucci timed in 1.12.2kr.
Ze’Maria (3m Muscle Hill-Light My Candle-Garland Lobell) held gamely for second handled by Rene’ Legati and third was Zabul FI (3m Ganymede-Sala del Rio). Early pacesetter Zidane Grif went on a break and was a dq.
The co-featured Oaks del Trotto (purse 253,000€, 1600 meters autostart, 12 three year old females) showcased the front stepping Zabriskie OK (3f Conway Hall-Georgia Pines-Pine Chip-Dasooner Dabettor) timed in 1.12kr for trainer/driver Alessandro Gocciadoro.
Zealand As (3f Donato Hanover-Fortune As-Tenor de Baune) took second for Rene’ Legati and third went to Zona OK (3f Varenne-Erreuno OK-Supergill) with Roberto Vecchione up.
Before the major tests was the GP Freccia d’Europa (purse 88,000€, 1600 meters autostart) for aged performers.
Super Star Reaf (7f Varenne-Fantastica Star-Lemon Dra) scored by a nose timed in 1.11.3kr for Davide DiStefano. The victory increased her career earnings to over 207,000€. Veteran Arazi Boko (11g Varenne-Laura Kemp-Express Ride) was second for Alessandro Gocciadoro after making a first up sustained bid that just missed. Sonic (7m Eldgrado Bi-Fiss) took third for Rene’ Legati.
At Kincsem Park (Budapest) on Saturday was the featured Uli DIJ (purse 600,000Huf, 1960 meters distance handicap) with the 91/1 Henrik Ibsen AT (6m Worship-Her Own Child-Imposant Sund) scoring in 1.20.1kr with Csaba Lakatos up.
This Tibor Hajnal trainee overcame a 20 meter handicap to defeat Urjczz! (5m Maximus Lindy) and the 20 meter handicapped Oldtimer Diamant (8g Arc de Triomphe) handled by Emese Vezer.
Two year olds contested the Nyereylen Ketevesek (purse 400,000Huf, 1800 meters autostart) with victory to the good gaited 1.2/1 favorite Ann Bella M (2f Cigar Dan-Malhana Serey-Malhana Sascha) with trainer Branislav Mukity aboard. Adolfina B (2f Vioxx SR-Ms Tova-Chip Chip Hooray) and Andika (2f Calypso Capar-Jolly Beauty) trained the winning filly.
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink