If among trotters one could identify a secret agent in the style of James Bond… well the identikit could only match that of Frank Gio, winner of the Uet Circuit Elite final held at the Vinovo racecourse. The victory of the son of FaceTtime Bourbon represents the typical example, entirely French, like his trainer Sebastien Guarato, of putting a target in the sights and preparing for it not over days, nor weeks, but months. Right after the Lotteria, finished with the double second place in the heat and in the final behind Free Time Jepson, Mr. Bivans, in real life Antonio Somma, had declared that we would see Frank Gio back at his best on the occasion of the Uet final. And so it was: more than four months off, then the comeback at Mons in Belgium and then the journey to Turin to take on some sacred monsters of continental harness racing such as Go On Boy and Francesco Zet, just to mention only the other two occupants of the Turin podium.
Like the secret agent protagonist of Ian Fleming’s novels, Frank Gio arrived at the appointment with his lights off, ready to produce his coup de théâtre and he did so in the best possible way, in a race that saw him as a protagonist from the first to the last metre. At the start, in fact, he tried to take the lead away from Don Fanucci Zet, but Orjan Kihlstrom, of course, was not caught out; then MaTthieu Abrivard did a little bumping, but in the end managed to park second ion the rail, but it lasted only a moment because the advance of Go On Boy forced the French driver to make an early move so as not to be covered up by his rival: he succeeded and probably it was precisely here that he won his race when there were still around a thousand metres to go. 1.13.8 the kilometre passage, if we want, rather slow, but immediately afterwards the powder ignited because Frank Gio began to press Don Fanucci, attacked him, while Go On boy was there enjoying the show ready to make his move in turn. The second km was probably covered one or two lines below 1.10. On the final bend the three lined up diagonally: Don Fanucci on the inside, Frank Gio in the second lane and Go On Boy coming back in the third. An exciting home straight that made the crowd vibrate and in the end they accompanied with a roar the victory of the Italian horse ahead of Go On Boy, who in the photo got the better of Don Fanucci. Unfortunately the other Italian on whom we had hopes was below par: Free Time Jepson was unable to get into the heart of the race and finished among the backmarkers. There will be an opportunity for redemption.
13.a victory in 35 races contested for Frank Gio, but probably the finest: the one that makes him forget some regrets for something badly lost or that in any case did not see him perform according to expectations. Now the die is cast: Paris, Go On Boy and the others are waiting. Last year’s fourth place has to be improved: for agent Frank, Operation Amerique begins!
