Zarenne FAS and Tessy d’Ete win for Riordan

Harness racing trainer Jerry Riordan enjoyed quite a day in Norway. First in the Finntacks Europamatch (purse to winner 150,000Nkr, 1609 meters autostart, eight starters), the former Orsi Mangelli winner Zarenne FAS (5m Varenne-Miss Muscle Fas-Muscles Yankee) scored in 1.09.8kr (mile 1:52.3) for driver Tom Erik Solberg, owner Francesco Gragnaniello and of course trainer Riordan.

Zarenne FAS was off at 2.1/1 odds as he won for the first time in five 2020 starts. His life earnings are now 4,430,317Nkr from nine wins in 36 appearances. Zarenne FAS lowered the previous stake record established in 2018 by Generaal Bianco at 1.11.8kr. Riordan commented post race that he does well in Norway – must be the non-whip rule.

M.S. Triple J. (5m Cantab Hall-Maritas Victory-Valley Victory) was second for Svein Ove Wassberg and third went to Max Brady (5m Cantab Hall-Hope Brady-Ganymede) for Magnus Tein Gundersen.

 
Zarenne FAS

Jerry Riordan

In the Avarn Securitys Stayerlop (purse to winner 100,000Nkr, 3140 meters voltstart distance handicap, 15 starters) Riordan was again victorious as his new trainee Tessy d’Ete (8f Ganymede-Love Me Tender-Supergill) rallied from far back off her 40 meter handicap to score in 1.13.1kr at 3/1 odds.

Tom Erik Solberg was again at the lines as Tessy took her second 2020 win in seven outings. This, her 16th career win in 66 starts, advanced her life earnings to 5,998,240Nkr. As Riordan commented, she was 12th with 300 meters to go – the late rally was sensational. Scuderia Eurocolor Srl owns this fine mare.

Etenclin (6m Jag de Bellouet) was second for Robin Bakker and trainer Paul Hagoort, this one also handicapped 40 meters. Unoicsdue Gnafa (7m Goetmals Wood) was third for reinsman Lars Anvar Kolle.

Tessy d’Ete

Early on today’s card was the Support Justice (purse to winner 200,000Nkr, 2100 meters autostart, 12 starters) that saw Supercute (3f Muscle Hill-Bold and Fresh-SJs Caviar) score in 1.15.0kr with Bjorn Goop at the lines for trainer Ola Samuelsson and owner SRF Stable.

This was her second career victory in five starts for the daughter of Hambletonian Oaks winner Bold and Fresh, a Doug Miller trainee in the USA. Second today was L.A.’s I Feel Good (3m Andover Hall-Pine Princess L-Pine Chip) with Jomar Blekkan up. Third home was Thai Targaryan (3m Muscle Hill-Bether Always-Conway Hall) with Asbjern Tengsareid up.

Supercute

ATG, Bjerke, Maharajah files/photos

Thomas H. Hicks