Remember the top Italian trotter Varenne, who perhaps was the best trotter ever in the world? Now at age 23 Varenne is still on a winning streak as the leading stallion in Italy.

Since 2011 Varenne has been the leading stallion in Italy, and it seems that he will be that for years to come.

Zarenne Fas won the final in the Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli. Gerard Forni photo.

On Thursday (Nov. 1) the prestigious Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli was raced at the Vinovo track in Turin. Both the Orsi Mangelli and the Orsi Mangelli Filly were won by offspring of Varenne.

The 3-year-old colt Zarenne Fas won the final in the Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli, while the 3-year-old filly Zona Da won the filly division.

Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli, who earlier has been won by Hambletonian winners Malabar Man and Conway Hall, is raced with two eliminations and a final over the mile. Zarenne Fas qualified for the final by finishing second to rank outsider Zippy Freedom LF, while the other elimination was won by German Derby winner Mister F Daag — he sired by Conway Hall.

Mister F Daag, driven by Robin Bakker, was the heavy favorite in the final, but he never managed to catch long leading Zarenne Fas, driven by Antonio di Nardo, who won easily in 1:57f, two lengths ahead of Mister F Daag. The purse for the winner was $190,000.

The filly division had Zona Da, driven by Roberto Andreghetti, leading all the way and the win was easy in 1:56.4f. The purse for the winner was $42,000.

On the same card was one of Europe’s finest races for top trotters, the Gran Premio delle Nazioni, with a purse for the winner of $65,000. It was won by the 5-year-old Italian trotter Uragano Trebi, driven Roberto Vecchione, in 1:57.4f. Uragano Trebi is sired by Nad Al Sheba, he sired by Windsong’s Legacy.