By MICHAEL GUERIN
Varenne has furthered his claims to being the greatest trotter ever.
The Italian champion defended his crown in the Elitlopp, one of the world's greatest trotting races, which brought the best squaregaiters in Europe to Stockholm, Sweden, yesterday. And he did it in world-record style - twice.
The Elitlopp consists
of two heats over 1.6km with a 90-minute break before the final. Varenne won the first heat in 1:53.2, a world record for a trotter on a 1000m track. But that was only a teaser for what he produced in the final.
After being parked early in the final Varenne strode to the lead and smashed his own world record by trotting 1:53 to win by 1 1/2 lengths from HP Paque with last season's Hambletonian winner Scarlet Knight third. The 2000 Elitlopp winner Victory Tilly was fourth.
Varenne will have two more races in Europe before returning to the United States for the Breeder's Crown. That race, at the Meadowlands on July 27, will be his last before being retired to stud.
