by Thomas Hedlund

Frode Hamre drove his Stoletheshow in the $250,000 Oslo Grand Prix at Bjerke racetrack on Sunday (June 12) afternoon and the 7-year-old Dream Vacation son was outstanding when Hamre hit the lead shortly after the start.

Stoletheshow was not far from entering the Elitloppet in late May, but one can guess that the victory in Sunday’s race at home at Bjerke made up for the lost ticket to Elitloppet. And Stoletheshow looked unstoppable in front for Hamre.

The spectators might have considered him out of the game when Stoletheshow hit the first kilometer in a mile rate of 1:53.3, but Hamre had plenty of gas to use in the last turn and he made a decision trying to leave the chasers some lengths behind him at the top of the home stretch. Stoletheshow sprinted to a safe win in a mile rate of 1:53.2 and the driver and trainer was very satisfied after the big triumph.

”Winning the Oslo Grand Prix is by far the biggest experience I’ve had in this game. My horse was very strong in the last turn and I really wanted to get some lengths advantage to my opponents. I felt pretty safe and sure that we would win,” Hamre said after the win.

Hamre claimed the title in Oslo Grand Prix for the third year in a row. His Ble du Gers won the race in 2020 and 2021.

First choice San Moteur went off stride when the car left the field, but repaired strongly as runner up while Cicero T.G. finished third.

SET FOR BIG RACES SATURDAY

The $165,000 Kymi Grand Prix in Finland and $190,000 Norrbottens Stora Pris in Sweden, both races for the older elite, are scheduled this Saturday (June 18) and there are some high level trotters that enter the tracks in northern Europe.

Kymi Grand Prix in Finnish Kouvola over 2,100 meters gathers 10 horses, among them French-bred and trained title defender Ce Bello Romain.

In Boden, Don Fanucci Zet will be the probable favorite over 2,140 meters, even if he struggles with a bad post (7) behind the gate.

KYMI GP

Horse – Driver

1. Earl Simon – Franck Ouvrie

2. Oscar L.A. – Joakim Lövgren

3. Ce Bello Romain – Anthony Barrier

4. Calle Crown – Ken Ecce

5. Hotshot Luca – Pekka Korpi

6. Whole Lotta Love – Philippe Daugeard

7. Inti Boko – Santtu Raitala

8. Night Brodde – Conrad Lugauer

9. Jason’s Camden – Olli Koivunen

10. Önas Prince – Per Nordström

NORRBOTTENS STORA PRIS

Horse – Driver

1. Martin de Bos – Veli-Pekka Toivanen

2. Who’s Who – SCRATCHED

3. Van Gogh Z.S. – Kim Eriksson

4. Phoenix Photo – Erik Adielsson

5. Esprit Sisu – Daniel Wäjersten

6. Vitruvio – Mika Forss

7. Mindyourvalue W.F. – Robert Bergh

8. Don Fanucci Zet – Örjan Kihlström

9. Born Unicorn – Mats E Djuse

10. Makethemark – Ulf Ohlsson