by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

There was a lot of action in Europe on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 17) and in both France and Italy new trotting world records were set.

In France, the prestigious Prix de l’Etoile, a race for 3-, 4- and 5-year-old trotters was one of the main events at Vincennes. The distance was 1-3/8 miles (2200 meters) but the 3-year-olds have an allowance of 50 meters, racing from 2150 meters (approximately 1-1/3 miles).

The race was won by the colt Ecu Pierji, driven by Mathieu Mottier and trained by Sebastian Guarato in a new world record of 1:54.2 (mile rate). The old record was 1:55.4.

Ecu Pierji, who picked up a purse for the winner of $130,000, is now the richest 3-year-old in France with lifetime earnings of $506,000. Ecu Pierji is sired by Tucson, he by Coktail Jet.

Gerard Forni photo

Urlo dei Venti, driven by Enrico Bellei, was in command the whole trip and won in a new world record of 1:55h (mile rate).

In Italy the best 4-year-old trotters raced in the Gran Premio Continental over 1-1/4 miles at the half-mile track in Bologne.

Urlo dei Venti, driven by Enrico Bellei, was in command the whole trip and won in a new world record of 1:55h (mile rate). The old record was held by Natural Herbie, who at Yonkers had won in 2:24.4h over the 1-1/4 mile distance.

Urlo dei Venti has stamped himself as one of the leading trotters in his crop this year. This was his second Group 1 win, as back in April he won the Gran Premio d’Europa at the track in Turin.

Second to Urlo dei Venti was Unicorno SLM, driven by Wim Paal, while French trotter Dreammoko, driven by Gabriele Gelormini, finished third.

Dreammoko has been invited to race in the International Trot next month at Yonkers.

Another contender for the International Trot, Tripolini VP of Denmark, also raced Sunday afternoon. At his home track in Aalborg, Tripolini VP, driven by trainer Jeppe Juel, was an easy winner in 1:55.3f, even though he had a tough trip.