by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondant

The French horseman Jean Pierre Dubois scored another triumph on Sunday, October 7, as his 3-year-old trotter Infinitif, driven by Pietro Gubellini, won the Italian Trotting Derby, raced over the 1-5/16th mile distance at Tordivalle in Rome.

This was only the eighth time that Infinitif has raced and so far he is unbeaten.

Jean Pierre Dubois was double handed in the race and opted to drive In Dix Huit, a colt who like Infinitif is sired by Pine Chip.

The Italian Trotting Derby is the richest trotting derby in Europe as the purse for the winner is $450,000.

Infinitif, who had post position one, was able to take command from the start and Pietro Gubellini controlled the race. In Dix Huit trotted most of the race outside his stable companion, but tired down the stretch.

Infinitif won in 2:00.3f, followed two lengths behind by Impeto Grif (sired by Varenne), while Igor Font (sired by Andover Hall) was third. The only filly in the race, Ilaria Jet (sired by Pine Chip), finished fourth, just ahead of In Dix Huit.

Infinitif now has earnings of $550,000 and a record over the mile of 1:56.2f.

For Pietro Gubellini, this was his fourth victory in the Italian Trotting Derby since 2000.

Gubellini was also behind the winner of the Derby Consolation, Iulis Del Ronco (sired by Viking Kronos), who was an easy winner in 1:59.1f (mile rate).

In Denmark, another colt sired by Viking Kronos took home the honor in the Dansk Trav Kriterium for 3-year-old trotters, raced over the 1-5/8th mile distance.

It was Mega Vang, driven by Bo Westergaard, who in a close finish managed to win by a half-length, followed by Mönster (sired by Frisky Frazer) and the big favorite Mac Wee (sired by Wee Hjordal). The purse for the winner was $65,000.

Mega Vang has a very interesting pedigree, as his dam, L’Amour November, is sired by Supergill and out of Florida Dame, who has brought the German Derby winner and very successful stallion, General November, who unfortunately died last year.

It’s not just the United States that Swedish-bred trotters rule at the moment.

On the Derby Day in Rome, Opal Viking of Sweden, driven by Jorma Kontio, won the Gran Premio Gaetano Turilli, followed by Oiseau de Feux of France, driven by Jean Michel Bazire. The purse for the winner was $175,000.

Back in Sweden, Adrian Chip, driven by Robert Bergh, who finished second in the Hambletonian as well as in the World Trotting Derby, reappeared on Friday night in a race at Umaker. He was supposed to win, but Special AS (sired by Enjoy Lavec), driven by Ulf Ohlson, was unimpressed by the merits of Adrian Chip and was able to keep the much hyped trotter behind to win in 2:00.3f (mile rate).

“Adrian Chip has just been lightly trained after his return from the United States; he will be better next time and our next big goal is still the Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli in Italy on November 1,” Robert Bergh said afterwards.