Nuncio wins Masters Trot final
September 19, 2016,by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent
Nuncio, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, took another big win in the Masters Trot final at Bjerke in Norway on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 18).
Nuncio, owned and trained by Stefan “Tarzan” Melander, took an early lead and won very easily in the 1-5/16th mile event in 1:53.4f (mile rate) followed by Oasis Bi, driven by Erik Adielsson, and Mosaique Face, driven by Adrian Kolgjini.
The win was worth $220,000.
“This horse is unbelievable and it is difficult to find words to express my feelings for him,” Melander said to Swedish media after the race. “It is just to enjoy being the owner and trainer of such a dream trotter. He has raced at top level the whole year and I admire him so much.”
Nuncio raced for the 11th time in 2016 and after the doping scandal involving the French trotter Un Mec d’Heripre, Nuncio will be 11 for 11.
The UET Masters Trot final was supposed to be a race with all the best trotters in Europe in the line-up, but this year it looked more like a Swedish Gold Division as just Swedish and Norwegian trotters were entered.
In France the classic Prix d’Etoile at Vincennes was won by Bolero Love, driven by Gabriele Gelormini.
The Prix d’Etoile is a race for 3-, 4- and 5-year-old trotters over 2200 meters, but the 3-year olds have a 50 meter advance, racing from 2150 meters.
Django Riff, who is the best 3-year-old in France, was the favorite, but had to settle for second in a duel with the 5-year- old Bolero Love.
The win was worth $120,000.
This was the first time since 1997 that a 5-year-old trotter won the race.