It was a major racing weekend in Europe, with big events in France, Sweden, and Finland.
We begin in France — at the beautiful Cagnes-sur-Mer track, with the Mediterranean Sea providing a stunning backdrop.
Cobra Killer Gar, trained by Erik Bondo and driven by Gabriele Gelormini, enjoyed a dream trip behind the pacesetting Keep Going before sprinting clear to a decisive victory in the mile race, the Grand Prix du Département des Alpes-Maritimes, where heavy favorite Go On Boy gave way and broke stride in the stretch.
The Italian trotter Cobra Killer Gar, by Readly Express, has long been the star of Erik Bondo’s stable, but a major victory had been missing.
That victory came in the sprint race in the Grand Prix du Département des Alpes-Maritimes at Cagnes-sur-Mer, which carried a first prize of €81,000, approximately $94,600.
Go On Boy, driven by Romain Derieux, was the favorite, but after racing wide around the final turn, he faded partway down the stretch and broke stride.
Cobra Killer Gar won decisively in 1:51, ahead of Ideal de Ligneries and Keep Going.
In Sweden, the 3-year-olds were in the spotlight in two E3 finals over the mile at Romme.
Among the colts, Eric Martinsson’s Steady Spender, by Readly Express, won easily with Magnus A. Djuse in the bike in 1:53.2f, while the filly division went to Thai Medina, by Face Time Bourbon, with trainer-driver Björn Goop in the bike. The winning time was 1:53.4f.
The winners of the two races each earned SEK 1.5 million, approximately $158,400.
In Finland, the evergreen Don Fanucci Zet, by Hard Livin, driven by Örjan Kihlström and trained by Daniel Redén, delivered another strong performance when he won the Kymi Grand Prix at Kouvola in confident fashion in 1:54f. The first prize was €85,000, approximately $99,300.
There was, however, a hard-fought battle for second place, which went to Mellby Joker with Olli Koivunen.
The 10-year-old Don Fanucci Zet has raced eight times this year, winning six races and earning SEK 3,188,955, approximately $336,900.