by Thomas Hedlund

Two French trotters proved best when the $195,000 Kymi GP was held in Kouvola, Finland on Saturday afternoon (June 19).

First choice Delia du Pommereux, driven by David Thomain, got her order to attack from her position in last 600 meters into the race. At the same moment, Anthony Barrier, driver of Ce Bello Romain (Jam Pridem) got the same thought, leaving a cover trip aiming for the position first over, at least for a while.

Ce Bello Romain landed outside of leader Next Direction after a kilometer and soon thereafter Delia du Pommerux replaced Ce Bello Romain in that position. The two French horses got some lengths in advantage in the last turn as leader Next Direction was disarmed and chasing Seismic Wave couldn’t really challenge the ten battling horses in front over the stretch. Ce Bello Romain passed Delia du Pommereux mid-stretch, but the strong mare on the inside tried to fight her way back towards the victory and it was quite close when they hit the wire (replay here).

The 9-year-old gelding Ce Bello Romain held his neck ahead of Delia du Pommereux and driver Anthony Barrier seemed really excited after the prestigious win in a mile rate of 1:55.1 over 1.3 miles.

Unbelievable winner in Boden

Ten top trotters were gathered in the northern part of Sweden late on Saturday night when the $192,000 Norrbottens Stora Pris was held over 1.3 miles.

The big drama in the race started right away as Vernissage Grif refused to trot behind the gate before the start. The Italian horse acted strangely, which has been the case with Vernissage Grif a few times earlier this season, and when he disappeared from the race, the path to victory seemed open for first choice Very Kronos and Erik Adielsson.

Very Kronos was stable when the car accelerated and from post 2, the 7-year-old Ready Cash son opened quickly for the lead. In front, Adielsson could keep the pace down with Moni Viking on the outside and the two front horses began to battle for real during the race’s last half mile. At that point, the rest of the gang had problems connecting with the leaders and when Örjan Kihlström attacked from third over three wide at the back stretch with Who’s Who, Wild Love did the same thing. That was not to the advantage for Who’s Who (Maharajah), who had to seek even wider lane at the top of the stretch, at the same time as Very Kronos disconnected outside trotter Moni Viking. Very Kronos held his pace strongly and in 9 out of 10 races he would have been the winner, but an unbelievable finish from Who’s Who was delivered and Kihlström was first at the wire.

It was an impressive 1:54.4 (mile rate) performance from Who’s Who and high grades are given to runner up Very Kronos and bronze medalist Moni Viking.

Replay here.