Busy weekend in Europe

Harness racing fans all over Europe are treated well this weekend.

In France, the prestigious Criterium des 5 Ans is raced at Vincennes and the program also includes stakes races for 3- and 4-year-old trotters.

The Criterium, which carries a purse for the winner of $100,000 has 16 entrants, who will race over 3,000 meters (1-7/8 miles). The favorite is Enino du Pommereux, driven by Matthieu Abrivard and trained by Sebastian Roger. Enino du Pommereux, who is sired by Coktail Jet, won the Criterium des 4 Ans last year.

In the Pris Jules Thibault, the talented Face Time Bourbon, driven by Bjorn Goop and trained by Sebastian Guarato, returns to action for the first time since May 19, where he was a beaten second in Italy.

In Finland, the Finnish Trotting Derby (4-year-olds) is on the menu at Vermo in Helsinki Saturday afternoon. A field of 12 trotters will race over 2,600 meters (1-5/8 miles) for a purse to the winner of $165,000. The likely favorite is Graceful Swamp, driven by Ari Mollanen. Graceful Swamp, who has won nine out of 10 races in 2019, is by the French sire, So Perfect (he by Coktail Jet) and out of Zora Kemp by Majestic Son.

At the Capannelle track in Rome, eliminations for the Italian Trotting Derby and the Italian Oaks (3-year-olds) are also raced Saturday afternoon. Axl Rose, a chestnut colt sired by Love You, is the heavy favorite for the victory in the Derby final, which is raced on Sept. 22 at the Agnano track in Naples. He has his trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro in the bike.

The total purse in the Derby is $935,000 and in the Oaks $280,000.

The Swedish Trotting Derby for 4-year-olds raced is raced Sunday afternoon at Jägersro, Malmoe, over 1-5/8 miles. Some 12 trotters have qualified and the heavy favorite for the victory is Campo Bahia, a son of Muscle Hill. He is bred, trained and driven by German-born Conrad Lugauer, who trains in Sweden. Campo Bahia has only raced 10 times but has seven wins. The purse for the winner is $400,000.

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