by Thomas Hedlund

Jerry Riordan-trained Ringostarr Treb (Classic Photo) continued on his victory path when he took a safe wire-to-wire win in $186,300 Sundsvall Open Trot over 1.3 miles in front of more than 11,000 spectators at Bergsåker racetrack in Sweden on Saturday afternoon.

Ringostarr Treb won the Elitloppet 2018, but had bad luck with his health during the second half of the year and his connections weren’t sure that the 9-year-old colt would ever return to the tracks. Riordan must be praised. His successful philosophy as a trainer has resulted in a career in Sweden which includes victories in not only races for the older elite, but also with his younger armada. For example, it’s just been a week since Aetos Kronos (Bold Eagle) won the $207,000 E3 for colts and geldings in Sweden and that was the trotter’s second win in E3 this year.

Anyway, Ringostarr Treb is some kind of a unique trotter. As a 9-year-old, he still really likes to compete and the conditions in Sundsvall Open Trot, a race that Ringostarr Treb won already in 2017, were perfect. Post one behind the gate meant that the opponents understood early that the front position was hard to get, avoiding a big fight early on. Ringostarr Treb was easily sent to the front and driver Wim Paal never had to use his horse unnecessarily much throughout the race, so the last half mile went fast and the chasers could never challenge Riordan’s horse for real.

Cyber Lane kept his position first over and fought well, but finished fourth. Sorbet was served a trip behind the leading winner and was runner up ahead of strong finisher, from fifth over, Nadal Broline.

Mile rate over 2.140 meters was 1:54.3.

“This horse is just unbelievable. He had this serious injury and the doctors said that he would probably never race anymore, but you know what? Ringostarr Treb doesn’t care so much what the doctors said and it’s significant for these really great horses, that they come back and have this arrogant way of handle things on the track when they’re on it,” Riordan said. “The main thing for us is to let the horse stay sound and we will not go to the Masters finale in Paris in two weeks. It’s too close in time and we want to avoid a lot of travelling with him. Neither will he go to America this year. It’s important that we keep him going on tracks that he likes.”

The question about Ringostarr Treb’s ability to perform like this as 9-year-old was answered by Riordan.

“I think it’s this S.J.’s Photo blood that runs through his veins. I mean, S.J.’s Photo still had like 100 mares in foal the day he passed away and he has proved that his offsprings can go on forever,” Riordan said.

The never-ending story of Ringostarr Treb continues. It was the son of Classic Photo’s 93rd lifetime start on Saturday afternoon and his 33rd victory. His lifetime earnings are now $1,671,223 and his record mark is 1:49.4, set as runner up ahead of Propulsion in the $207,000 Hugo Åbergs Memorial in 2017.

Ringostarr Treb replay.

Fastest mile ever in France

The $166,400 Grand Prix du Departement des Alpes-Maritimes was held in French Cagnes-sur-Mer on Saturday night and the mile race became a sparkling story where Alessandro Goociadoro’s Vivid Wise As (Yankee Glide) was successful in 1:50.2, the third fastest mile ever in Europe.

On French ground, a horse had never before trotted faster than Vivid Wise As did in Cagnes-sur-Mer and Alessandro Gocciadoro caught first over trotter Bahia Quesnot just ahead of the wire after a trip in second line, several lengths behind leader Drole de Jet.

Bahia Quesnot seemed to be the winner mid-stretch, but Vivid Wise As had more power to give when driver Gocciadoro asked him and shortly before the finish line, Vivid Wise As was first.

Propulsion’s 1:49.3 is still the fastest ever mile mark in Europe and the Muscle Hill son noted that mile in Jägersro’s Hugo Åbergs Memorial in 2017. Bold Eagle’s 1:50 from the Elitloppet elimination 2017 is the second fastest mile set in Europe while Vivid Wise As ties his mark 1:50.2 with Delicious from 2015 in Bollnäs, Sweden.

Vivid Wise As replay.