by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent

Italian-bred 3-year-old trotter, Victor Gio, trained by Jimmy Takter and fifth in this year’s edition of the Hambletonian, is off to Europe and will join the stables of Sebastian Guarato, the leading trainer in France.

In fact, Victor Gio was supposed to travel to Europe in Oct. to race in the Gran Premio Orsi Mangelli in Milan, but that plan was scratched.

Sebastian Guarato currently is by far the most successful trainer in France.

In 2017 alone he has trained no less than nine winners of Group 1 races and his stable has earnings of $6.4 million euros, while the second leading trainer, Jean Michel Bazire, has $3.9 million euros.

The stable star at Guarato is Bold Eagle, the two-time winner of the Prix d’Amerique, who will be aimed for a hat trick.

Bold Eagle has not raced since he was beaten by the gelding Aubrion du Gers in the UET Trotting Master Final at Vincennes in early Sept., but will return to action on Nov. 19 in the Prix de Bretagne, which is the first prep race for the Prix d’Amerique.

As the winter meeting took off last Thursday, Guarato received his first big winner during this session, as 8-year-old Valko Jenilat won a Group II race.

Yesterday the second Group II race for the Guarato Stable was won by Eridan followed by stablemate Ecu Pierji – these two colts are the best 3-year-olds in France.

Victor Gio is not the only newcomer at Guarato as another Italian 3-year-old, Vivid Wise As, has just arrived after a disappointing effort in the Orsi Mangelli.