Today’s Gr. I Gran Premio Continentale at Bologna Arcoveggio (purse €209,000, 2060 meters autostart) went to FR invader Brillantissime (4m Ready Cash-Ivory de Victoire-Buvetier d’Aunou) trained by Philippe Allaire and reined by Pierre Vercruysse.
The pair scored impressively in gate to wire fashion clocked in 1.13kr.
Two lengths in arrears was Smeralda Jet (4m Gigant Neo-Ticket To Ride-Nevele Pride) handled by Antonio Di Nardo with Santiago d’Ete (4m Daguet Rapide-Love Me Tender-Supergill) third driven by Roberto Andreghetti.
US-breds Vanity Matters (Bjorn Goop up) and Hillustrious (Johnny Takter driving) finished seventh and ninth.
The Continentale Filly (purse €55,000, 1660 meters autostart) at Bologna went to 1.13.1kr winner Sundance Bi (4f Equinox Bi-Fendi Bi-Sugarcane Hanover) with G.P. Minnucci up in a three-filly photo.
Saikala (4f Turbo Sund-Clorinda Bi-Valley Boss Bi) was second for Antonio Farolfi, with Sharon Gar (4f Varenne-Geneve Gar-Lemon Dra) third, the latter with Pippo Gubellini aboard.
Salome Bar and Sunrise Dancer finished fourth and fifth.
On the undercard at Bologna was the 26th Wayne Eden Memorial (€14,300 purse, 1660 meters autostart, invitational) and its two elims each for €7,700 over the same distance.
The Finale went to Oncle Photo VL (7g SJ’s Photo-Balalaica SLM-Lemon Dra) timed in 1.13.1kr for Federico Esposito driving.
He won the first elim timed in 1.14.5kr over Nonant Le Pin, Rejna Inn Ronco and Rugiada SMS.
Second in the Finale was Disco AE (7m Scarlet Knight-Queen As-Super Arnie ) with Roberto Andreghetti up.
He was fourth in elim two behind winner Potrenza OM clocked in 1.13.3kr, Rhythm’s Blues and Procella Marina.
Third in the Finale was Potenza OM (6m Yankee Slide-Fiancee di Jesolo-Kramer Boy) and driver Pippo Gubellini ahead of Rejna Inn Ronco (5f Donato Hanover-Cynthia del Ronco-Sugarcane Hanover) and teamster Enrico Bellei with fifth to Nonant Le Pin (8f Goetmals Wood-Blazing Janice-Pine Chip) and Alessandro Gocciadoro.
Thomas H. Hicks