But neither of the two trotters are owned or trained in Italy.

Main Wise AS was sold as a yearling for $40,000 to a Dutch horse owner and was until some months ago trained by Hugo Langeweg in The Netherlands. In June he was transferred to the stables of Pierre Levesque in France, but as he was excluded from training because of a doping sentence, his colleague Sebastian Ernault took over.

Gerard Forni photo

Main Wise AS won the European Trotting Derby on Sunday.

The Europan Trotting Derby, called the Grand Prix de l’UET, is open for all European-bred 4-year-old trotters and is raced in different countries every year. However the race circulates mainly between Sweden and France, which are the largest trotting nations in Europe.

Eliminations were held a fortnight ago in France and in Sweden and after the late scratch of French bred So Lovely Girl a field of 11 trotters lined up behind the gate at the mile track in Le Croise-Laroche in the northeastern part of France. The distance was 1-1/4 miles and the total purse was $560,000.

The Swedish entry Joke Face, driven by Lutfi Kolgjini, who a month ago won the Swedish Trotting Derby, was favored to win. However Joke Face was not at his best, and as he got a tough trip he was never in the picture.

Sebastian Ernault gave Main Wise AS a good trip and going into the stretch he made his move. Sam Bourbon with Jean Pierre Dubois tried to hold him off, but went off stride, so Main Wise AS became a rather easy winner followed by Sebastian K of Sweden, while Sereno of France was third. The time for the winner was 1:56.1 (mile rate).

Though Main Wise AS is Italian bred, he has North American blood in his veins. He is sired by Yankee Glide and out of Desert Flower K. She is by Sierra Kosmos and was bred by Robert Key, the breeder of Breeders Crown winner Break The Bank K.

At the Tordivalle track in Rome, Italy, Europe’s richest race for 3-year-old trotters was contested. The Derby Italiano del Trotto was raced over the 1-5/16th mile distance with a total purse of $915,000.

Napoleon Bar, driven by Italian champion driver Enrico Bellei, was the favorite, but Swedish trained and owned Nadir Kronos, with Andrea Guzzinati, was in command from the start and won very easily. Nadir Kronos was timed in 1:59.4f (mile rate). Napoleon Bar finished unplaced.

Nadir Kronos is bred, trained and part owned by Lutfi Kolgjini, who raced in France the same afternoon. Nadir Kronos was sired by the great champion Varenne and out of Crown Kronos; she by Supergill out of Working Gal (by Speedy Crown).

Working Gal is a full sister to Breeders Crown winner Workaholic, who was sold to France where he has been a very influential sire.

In the Italian Oaks no less than 20 fillies lined up in three tiers behind the gate. From post position 15 Enrico Bellei managed to get the favorite Nausica Fp first past the post to win in 1:58.1f. The purse for the winner was $110,000.

Enrico Bellei was in the bike behind a very brave Italiano, who won the Gran Premio Gaetano Turilli, an international race with a purse for the winner of $165,000.