by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent
The 60-year-old German Heinz Wewering, who with more than 16,000 victories is the world’s most winning harness driver, on Sunday (August 1) posted his eighth victory in the German Trotting Derby — Der 115. Deutsches Traber Derby over the 1-3/16th mile distance — at the three-quarter-mile track Mariendorf in Berlin.
Wewering was behind the Finnish owned and trained Unikum, who fought barevely to win by a length, followed by the Dutch-owned and trained Armando Kivietshof, driven by Cees Kaminga, with Baltimore AS with Roland Külskath third.
Wewering was easy on his colt from start, where Baltimore AS was first out, but soon to be overtaken by the second favorite, Mary’s Boy, driven by young Robin Bakker. The first quarter went in :28. Mary’s Boy was still in command as they turned for home, but began to tire. Baron W with Michael Schmied took over and Baltimore AS was there, too. On the outside Unikum came up, followed by Armando Kievitshof.
Unikum proved to be the strongest and was first past the post in 2:01 (mile rate). The purse for the winner was $132,500.
It was a very emotional Wewering who returned to the winner’s circle. Wewering has gone through some tough times and recently he lost his job as private trainer for one of Germany’s biggest owners, Frau Marion Jauss, who raced Baltimore AS in the Derby.
Unikum is sired by Allison Hollow, he by Supergill. Allison Hollow raced as a 2- and 3-year-old in the Unired States and his biggest wins were the Valley Victory Trot at Garden State Park and the Charles Smith Memorial at Freehold; both times Malabar Man had to settle for second.
Allison Hollow was exported to Germany, where he lowered his record and ended his career with total earnings of $1.1 million. He has been quite useful at the stud and since 2004 he has been at stud in Italy at the famous Orsi Mangelli Stud, where he stands for just $4,500.
The dam of Unikum, Uceana, is sired by Cheetah, a full brother to Hambletonian winner Bonefish. Uceana, who has a record of 2:04.5f, has had no less than 15 foals and Unikum is by far the best one. Her latest foal was born in 2008; it’s a filly called Use It Or Loose It, who is sired by Baltic Bet.
The Derby Consolation had a very easy winner in My Muscle Yankee (sired by Incredible Hulk) who was driven by top Danish driver Steen Juul, who also won the FFA with the very useful Supergill son Classic Grand Cru.
Prix Henri Cravoisier held in Paris
Some of the best French and Italian 3-year-olds met in the Group 3-race Prix Henri Cravoisier over the mile at Enghien in Paris, on Sunday afternoon.
Nesta Effe — an Italian colt driven by Roberto Vecchione — seemed to be in a class of his won as he won by four lengths in 1:55.4, followed by the French filly Trinité des Vals with another Italian entry Neldorado Vil third.
Nesta Effe is from the first crop of Naglo, the top Swedish international trotter who won more than $1.6 million. He is sired by Coktail Jet. The dam of Nesta Effe is sired by Viking Kronos.