by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA Web Newsroom Correspondent

Jean Michel Bazire is not only in a league by himself in his home country, France, he is definitely one of the top three drivers in Europe, and if anybody has any doubts look at the results of two big international stakes races, raced Friday in Italy and in Finland on Saturday.

Friday Bazire won the Gran Premio d’Europa, a race over 1 5-16 mile for 4-year-old trotters with a purse for the winner of $200,000. Bazire was behind Igor Font – an Italian bred son of Andover Hall out of the very fast mare, Cologne Kosmos.

Over the winter Igor Font transferred to the stables of top French trainer, Fabrice Souloy, who has enjoyed several successes with Italian-bred trotters, most notable Exploit Caf, winner of the Lotteria last year and the Prix de France this year.

Igor Font enjoyed a pocket trip in the Gran Premio d’Europa and won very easily in a new race record, 1.55.4f, two seconds faster than the old record.

Iulius del Ronco driven by Pietro Gubellini, who was prominent most of the trip, finished second, while Ismos FP took third.
The filly division was won by Iuma EK, a daughter to Viking Kronos, who won handily in 1.56.f for Pietro Gubellini. Tthe purse for the winner was $50,000.

Saturday afternoon the team of Bazire and Souloy was in action again at the Vermo track in Finland.
After two prep races in France, the six-year-old Oiseau de Feux was spot on and Bazire guided him to the front from the start and stayed there

Oiseau de Feux was an easy winner in 1.54.3f, followed by Finnish-bred Simb Chaplin, who had to race first-over without cover the whole trip. Third was Jaded of Sweden who enjoyed a pocket trip.

The Finlandia Ajo is a leg in the European Grand Circuit and the purse for the winner was $170,000.

After the impressive win Oiseu de Feux was invited to race in the Elitlopp a month from now.

On the same card in Vermo Skully Gully, a son of Yankee Glide, trotted to a new Finnish record of 1.55f.