Viva Italia!!! in Norway

Italian bred trotteurs dominated the big harness racing card today (June 9) at Bjerke Racecourse in Norway, including the featured Oslo Grand Prix. Here the 11.7/1 odds outsider Banderas Bi (7m Ganymede-Ida Grandi-Toss Out- Miss Baltic) swept past rivals in the lane to score timed in 1.10.5kr to earn the 101.084€ first prize in the OGP, a race that began in 1966 and is part of the European Grand Circuit.

Alessandro Gocciadoro trains and drove the winner for breeder/owner Az.Agr. Biasuzzi Srl as their charge won for the 13^th time in 45 starts now for 598,090€ earned. Today’s winning time equaled the race record set in 2022 by Stoletheshow, Last year’s race was won by Hades de Vandel in 1.10.7kr. The race distance was 2100 meters autostart.

Finishing second this day was 6/1 Kentucky River (6m Father Patrick-Flicka River-Ready Cash) driven by Orjan Kihlstrom for Daniel Reden and JimMit AB. Third was 3.4/1 odds pacesetter Joviality (5f Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face-Muscle Hill) that weakened late with Erik Adielsson driving for Sabine Kagebrant the trainer for owner Stall Courant AB. Devilish Hill (4g Muscle Hill) was fourth at 19.8/1 and Hades de Vandel (7m Ganymede) was fifth at 46.8/1 odds. Stoletheshow finished sixth.

To watch the race replay, click here.

Italy’s Gocciadoro also won the Sprintlop (purse to winner 16,844€, 1609 meters autostart, 10 starters) with his trainee Jimmy Ferro B.R. (6m Love You-Avalon Transs R-Super Arnie) timed in 1.10.0kr and off at 2.51/1 favorite odds.

Finishing second was Florlis Baldwin (12g Passing Renka) with Tom Erik Solberg at the lines and off at 7.9/1 odds, ahead of third finishing Digital Dominance (8g Super Photo Kosmos) with Ken Ecce the trainer/driver of the 15.2/1 odds campaigner.

To watch the race replay, click here.

Early today Gocciadoro was also a winner with his trainee Ete Jet (4f Maharajah-Love Me Tender-Supergill). Ete Jet destroyed this field with a blistering rush from fifth to first and it was over for this 7.4/1 odds performer.

Crown (4m Chapter Seven-Amour Hieress) was a distant second at 2.3/1 favorite odds with Orjan Kihlstrom teaming the Daniel Reden trainee. Third home was Kong du Dalm (4m Feeling Cash) at 13.1/1 with Magnus A. Djuse driving.

To watch the race replay, click here.

Gocciadoro looked like a winner in the Trond Anderssens (25,266€ to the winner, 1609 meters autostart, 10 starters) as his Delicious Gar (5f Father Patrick) at 4.1/1 led into the lane but was caught and passed by the 6.7/1 odds winner Betting Pacer (7f Maharajah-Peignoir-Fast Photo) driven by her trainer Bjorn Goop. Race time was 1.10.4kr.

To watch the race replay, click here.

Italy had another winner as Extreme Point (4g Espoir Prestance) scored in the Final Summer Meeting Oslo Trot for 8,422€ first prize. Trainer Frode Hamre drove the Italian registered trotteur that scored at 4.3/1 odds and was timed in 1.12.8kr as this horse now has six wins and two second place finishes in eight 2024 starts.

ATG, Bjerke, Veikauss files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink