Googoo Gaagaa is hot in Sweden

by Thomas Hedlund

American-bred Googoo Gaagaa (Cam’s Rocket—Kora’s Trotter) landed in Sweden last Monday and will serve as stud at Broline International next season. Swedish agent Robert Lindström was quick to note that offsprings from the pacer-pedigreed stallion did great in Sweden and owner Richard Hans agreed to let Googoo Gaagaa try his luck on the Swedish market next year.

And the interest for the stallion is overwhelming. Googoo Gaagaa’s book is already full for 2020, which means that 150 mares already have booked him as their partner for the next breeding season.

“It’s obviously great that the interest for him is so big. I haven’t even had the time to answer all the calls that I’ve got and the pressure is enormous,” Robert Lindström said to sulkysport.se.

Googoo Gaagaa’s first crop in Sweden contains several trotters that already have shown great capacity. When the eliminations for the $824,400 Svenskt Travkriterium were held at Solvalla on Tuesday night, sons of Googoo Gaagaa secured three positions in the final (scheduled at Solvalla on Sept. 29). Robert Bergh’s Power and Svante Båth’s Bythebook won their eliminations, respectively, while Admir Zukanovic’s Usain Töll was second and ready for final.

Beside the two sons of Googoo Gaagaa, trainer Adrian Kolgjini had a great night at Solvalla when he won with Joke Face sons Ubequarian Face and Upset Face in impressive style.

Jerry Riordan’s Aetos Kronos (Bold Eagle), partly owned by Jeff Snyder, still consolidates his position as the leader of the gang when it comes to 3-year-olds in Sweden. Paired with Örjan Kihlström, Aetos Kronos impressed a lot in the elimination and the Bold Eagle son will most probably be the first choice in the big race next weekend.

The last winner of the six eliminations was Marvellous Tooma (Dream Vacation), trained by Frode Hamre in Norway and driven by Ulf Ohlsson.

Six eliminations for the $577,000 Oaks were held the same night at Solvalla and Trixton had two winners. Alaska Kronos, trained by Daniel Redén and No Limit Queen, trained and driven by Björn Goop, will face 10 contenders on Sept. 29.

Dontlooseallmoney (Bold Eagle), trained and driven by Jim Oscarsson, Award Kronos (Father Patrick), trained by Daniel Redén, Diana Zet (Hard Livin), Daniel Redén and Ganga Bae (Muscle Hill), trained by Stefan Melander, all won their eliminations.

The Oaks is held over the distance of 1.3 miles while Svenskt Travkriterium is held over 1.6 miles.

Norton Commander replaces Sobel Conway in International Trot

Finnish owned Sobel Conway will not make the journey to New York and The International Trot in October. Instead, 5-year-old Norton Commander, trained by Conrad Lugauer in Sweden, will replace Sobel Conway.

Guarato dominated in Le Croisé-Laroche

The $99,500 Grand Prix de la Federation Regionale du Nord was held in Le Croisé-Laroche in northern France on Wednesday afternoon and Sébastien Guarato smiled when he noted that his horses finished on top. But it was maybe a bit surprising that Tony Gio (Varenne) was the one that reached the highest spot on the podium in the race.

Bold Eagle opened quickly for the lead, but Björn Goop opted to let the son of Ready Cash get a trip behind a new leader and when Tony Gio got some lengths ahead to his opponents in the last turn, Bold Eagle couldn’t catch up with Guarato’s other horse.

Tony Gio won in a mile rate of 1:54 over 1.7 miles and Bold Eagle finished second in 1:54.1.