Monday’s (April 6) three Group 1 races at the Visarno track in Turin, Italy, were all won by horses from Alessandro Gocciadoro’s stable.
It was yet another big day for Gocciadoro on an Italian harness racing track. As dominant in Italy as Ron Burke is in the U.S., Gocciadoro started no fewer than 19 horses on the day’s program — but quantity alone is not enough; quality is required as well.
The tone for the Gocciadoro festival was set in the Filly Division of the Derby dei 4 Anni, where the first three finishers all came from the Gocciadoro stable.
Giovaz (by Maharajah), driven by Antonio di Nardo, scored a comfortable victory in 1:56.1f (mile rate) ahead of Glamour Queen (by Face Time Bourbon), with Gocciadoro himself in the bike, and Gioconda Jet (by Maharajah) with Magnus A. Djuse.
The first prize was worth €83,720.
In the Colt Division of the Derby dei 4 Anni, Gocciadoro sat behind the favorite Guglielmo Jet (Maharajah), who went straight to the front and led from start to finish, winning in 1:55.4f (mile rate).
Once again, the winner’s share was €83,720.
The day’s most lucrative race was the Gran Premio Azzurra for open class trotters, featuring a total purse of €220,000, with €92,000 going to the winner.
Gocciadoro had three starters in the race — and they filled the top three positions.
The field’s elder statesman, Always Ek (by Filipp Roc), driven by Djuse, finished strongest and prevailed in 1:53.1f, narrowly ahead of Free Time Jepson (by Face Time Bourbon), with Andrea Guzzinati. Dany Capar (by Exploit Caf), driven by Gocciadoro, finished third.
For 10-year-old Always Ek, this was his sixth Group 1 victory. He won the Gran Premio Lotteria last year, and Monday’s win secured him a ticket to the prestigious Naples race next month. Djuse will again be in the sulky in Naples.
Gocciadoro also won a regular event, the Premio Hippodrome Cote d’Azur, with Feldenkras Pal (by Trixton), stopping the clock in 1:55.1f and earning €5,520 for first place.