Marco Smorgon, from Piedmont, is a breeder, trainer, driver and horse owner who has gravitated to this world for over forty years. His palmares include prestigious victories and fulfilled dreams. His only regret bears the name of Zinzan Brooke, his protégé, a trotter who had the misfortune of competing at a time when such phenomena as Varenne, Fan Idole, Geneal du Pommeau and Viking Kronos were taking to the track. But he has modelled numerous horses including Vivid Wise as well as more recently Golden Gio, the most talked about horse of the moment.
Marco, you have numerous roles: which is the one that suits you best?
Definitely being a trainer. I like to see the colts I have followed grow and win right from the taming. The successes of my pupils in France, in Vincennes, have exalted me and made me proud.
So you love to cross borders and ‘annoy’ the French?
I don’t deny that I would love to win the Prix D’Amerique with a horse forged with my own hands.
In all these years of hard work, are you more in debt or in credit to life?
There are those who are born with a shirt on and those who have to work harder than they should to get results. Here I have not had that privilege. Mine has not been an easy career. I built it all by myself and with hard work. But it was worth it.
After Vivid Wise as, you are now working with Golden Gio. Is the collaboration with Bivans solid and is it getting stronger?
It is a very important stable that invests a lot of money. After many years, Antonio Somma, who is the manager of their horses, has found the squaring of the circle by buying and breeding great horses.
Face Time Bourbon above all?
Exactly. By the way, Face Time Bourbon is also distinguishing himself as a stallion, his sons are a guarantee. Ready Cash, who proved to be the best in this respect, has found a worthy rival in breeding.
Like his son, Golden Gio. Who does this little champion remind you of?
From a morphological point of view the sire, Face Time Bourbon. For the character expressed in racing he reminds me of Vivid Wise as, his mother is his full sister, because he likes to attack his opponents. An explosive mixture of qualities. He is a horse that still has to perfect himself, he is still a ‘big kid’, but he has all the right numbers to establish himself. A ten in almost everything: character, quality, morphology and, I repeat, super genealogy. He adapts to all distances, especially the long ones where he has no opponents at the moment.
What programming do you have planned for him?
On Monday, Antonio Somma, returning from Paris, stopped by my stable. We have decided that he will run the Giovanardi at Modena in April and then we will see whether to participate in the National or go to Naples. Let’s go step by step.
Who will drive him in Italy?
Simone Mollo, my daughter Evita’s boyfriend. I would like to add my thanks to the owners of Golden Gio for confirming their trust in me. Antonio Somma and the new owners Giuseppe Franco and his father, owners of Zacon Gio, an association, theirs, that is being consolidated. With real friends you share the risks, but above all you share the joys.
Unity is strength.
In the photo Vivd Wise As winning the Gp Anact at Agnano. Trainer and driver Marco Smorgon
