The traditional Gran Premio Lotteria at the Agnano track in Naples ended in a thrilling finish between the two half-siblings Executiv Ek with Andrea Guzzinati and Always Ek with Magnus A. Djuse.
The 5-year-old Executive Ek (sired by Face Time Bourbon) led during the race but had to settle for second place in a close finish against 9-year-old Always Ek (sired by Filipp Roc). Their mother is Uri Ek (sired by Park Avenue Joe).
But not only did the broodmare, Uri Ek, have a double triumph in the race, both horses are trained by Alessandro Gocciadoro, who himself drove Dany Capar, who finished last.
The winning time for Always Ek was 1:53.1f and the first prize was 276,230 Euros.
Gran Premio Lotteria was, as always, run with three preliminary heats, from which the top three went to the final.
Outsider Dubhe Prav with Santo Mollo won the first heat in 1:53.2f, Executiv Ek with Guzzinati won the second heat in 1:52.4f, and Always Ek with Djuse won the third heat in 1:55.2f.
At the Vermo track in Finland, Swedish trainer Daniel Wäjersten followed up Saturday’s triumph in the Paralympiatravet with Borups Victory with another major race victory. Wäjersten won the Finlandia Ajo — the biggest international race in Finland with a first prize of 100,000 Euros — with Mellby Jinx (sired by Ready Cash) in 1:52.2f ahead of Betting Pacer with Björn Goop and Decision Maker with Carl Johan Jepson.