by Karsten Bønsdorf

The Italian trotter Nesta Effe, driven by Roberto Vecchione, won the Finlandia Ajo at Vermo Saturday afternoon beating the local favorite, Brad de Veluwe with Tuomas Korvenoja.

Nesta Effe was timed in 1.54f and the purse for the winner was $145,000.

Roberto Vecchione drove a perfect race with the chestnut trotter, who is trained by Italy’s leading trainer for several years, German born Holger Ehlert.

Vecchione made his move from the back of the field with 600 meters to go, found cover around the last bend and going into the stretch he took Nesta Effe to the outside.

Brad de Veluwe followed Nesta Effe, but could not catch him and finished second.

This was the second victory in a row for Nesta Effe in Finland – two weeks ago he won the Prix Etain Royal, also beating Brad de Veluwe.

After yesterday’s win, Nesta Effe was invited to race in the Oslo Grand Prix.

Nesta Effe is sired by the Swedish trotter Naglo, he by the French champion Coktail Jet and out of a mare sired by Viking Kronos.

Last year’s winner of the race, Commander Crowe was a late scratch as the flight to bring him and other French trained trotters to Finland had to return shortly after takeoff from Paris.

In France, Texas Charm, driven by Julien Dubois, was an easy winner of the Grand Criterium de Vitesse de Basse Normandie – a mile race raced at the 13/16 mile track in Argentan in Normandy.

Texas Charm was in command most of the trip and won easily in 1.56.2. The purse for the winner was $58,500.