Undefeated Coin Perdu tops new stars in Sweden
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by Thomas Hedlund
Saturday, the finals of E3 was held at Bergsåker racetrack in Sweden. E3 is a series for the three-year-old horses that had its premiere in 1997. Many horses has become future stars after their entry in the E3 circuit and it would be a surprise if the harness racing fans didn’t see a horse for the really big races when Svante Båth-trained Coin Perdu (S.J.’s Caviar—Piova Kronos) took his ninth straight win from the debut as a two-year-old in September last year.
Coin Perdu, driven by Erik Adielsson had to do the hard job outside leader Twist Of Fate, but already in the last turn the trotter had everything under control.
A distance of 2.140 meters (approximately two 5/8ths of a mile) first over is not always the way to win tough races, but Coin Perdu is an extraordinary horse, that, so far, has yet to taste defeat.
Båth is skilled with young horses and this was his ninth victory in E3. He had four horses in the race this time and he also trains the runner up, Van Kronos.
“It feels great. It’s not fair to compare horses, but I said early on to the owner that he might have a horse that probably will earn a lot of money early in his career and now it seems like I was right about that,” Båth said.
The victory was worth $110,000 and Coin Perdu has already earned a total of $335,000, which is an impressive total this early in a horse’s career in Sweden. The approximate mile time was 1:57.1.
The fillies’ division saw an upset winner in Jim Oscarsson-trained and Italian-bred Violet Bi (Equinox Bi—Fidji Bi). From a post position in second tier, Violet Bi swept the field from second over and the victory was easy in 1:58.3. As for the colts and geldings, $110,000 was added to the filly’s bank account.
Oscarsson is not an unknown name for the American harness racing fans. During a couple of seasons, Oscarsson was a trainer in the U.S. and among his most memorable moments in the sport he counts the victory in Peter Haughton Memorial with Aperfectyankee in 2012. He also trained Nuncio as a two-year-old, before he left for his comeback in his home country Sweden.
“This is what we are working for all the time and it’s a pleasure to train and drive these kind of horses. I can’t really tell what we are doing right, but the horses seems to like the way we form them. This is a big moment for me,” Oscarsson said.
The next stop for the E3-series will take place in August and it will be mile races with the same purse as Saturday.
Timoko back on winning track
The Elitlopp winner Timoko was back in his home country of France Saturday and with driver Björn Goop the duo won the mile race Prix de Washington in 1:56.
As usual, Timoko left quickly behind the gate and from post position one there were never any fight about the front position. Goop was allowed to keep the pace slow and the story shaped up like a quarter of a mile race. Timoko had no problems of keeping his antagonist behind him and the victory was worth $62,000.