Kidnapped champion trotter found on a beach in Italy

One of Italy’s top trotting horses has been found running loose on a beach — a year after the stallion was kidnapped.

Daguet Rapide, who was champion in 2003/04 and won €1.4m during his career, was kidnapped last June.

But last week he was found on a beach near Naples.

The horse is now a top stallion and is currently 10th on the Italian top sires list. During his absence his frozen semen was being sold for €15,000.

Daguet Rapide was kidnapped from Folli Farm near Bologne last year and a ransom was demanded, but it is thought that joint owners Marco Folli and Jean Pierre Dubois refused to pay.

The horse was found on same beach that another kidnapped trotter — Iglesias — was found a month ago.

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