by Thomas Hedlund

Björn Goop-trained 5-year-old San Moteur (Panne de Moteur) impressed many when he won the $295,000 Jubileumspokalen at Solvalla on Wednesday (Aug. 17) night. Over a distance of 2,140 meters and starting from post 10 on a hot summer night in Stockholm, Goop managed to hit a position in second over with San Moteur, the bettors’ first choice.

With Mister Hercules in the lead after the first 500 meters, first over trotter Önas Prince was given orders to attack the leader with 3/4 of a mile to go, a move that set the pace high when the field reached the first kilometer. Önas Prince didn’t get much out of the attempt and Goop was quick minded as he sent San Moteur to position outside the leader as the field turned in to the last kilometer.

San Moteur put hard pressure on Mister Hercules throughout the last turn and the leader was beaten with 300 meters to go. The other horses were never close to challenge the flying San Moteur at the stretch and as he hit the wire, he did it in a new world record mark over 2,140 meters — 1:52.1.

Global Badman followed in second after a pocket trip and Chiru finished strongly in third. This was Goop’s second Group 1 victory in five days.

Last Saturday, he claimed Åby Stora Pris with Moni Viking and in San Moteur he definitely has a horse that can challenge any other horse in the world, probably over any distance as well. It’s a fact that the entourage around the horse have received an invitation, or at least some kind of request from Yonkers Raceway, regarding a participation in the $1 million International Trot on Oct. 15. San Moteur might be the Swedish participant in that specific race, but Goop and the owner Håkan Arvidsson have been quite cautious with the horse so far in the 5-year-old trotter’s career. In May this year, they declined an invitation to Elitloppet, but who knows? The International Trot is prestigious and San Moteur would make a strong contribution to the race.

HONEY MEARAS BEST IN EUROPE

Five-year-old Honey Mearas (Readly Express) dominated the crop among the mares as a 4-year-old and on Wednesday night she claimed the title in the $195,000 European Championship for mares over 1.3 miles at Solvalla.

Honey Mearas had to do the heavy job three wide during the races last half mile and in her back, strong finishers like Sayonara and Zeudi Amg followed in the last turn. When the front runners were out of gas at the top of the stretch, Honey Mearas got advantage of the race, but behind her Sayonara attacked and seemed to catch the trophy. But Honey Mearas wanted something else and she fought back when Örjan Kihlström asked for it at mid-stretch. Sayonara never got seriously close as the wire approached and Honey Mearas won in mile rate 1:53.3.

Sayonara was second and Zeudi Amg third.

UPSET WINNER ENDED ENGHIEN’S SUMMER MEETING

Paris track Enghien ended its summer meeting on Wednesday (Aug. 17) afternoon and in the $152,500 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere some well-known trotters were in the field. Prix d’Amérique runner-up Galius and Harper Hanover’s race winner Diable de Vauvert were two of the bettors’ favorites and the two horses were seen in front of the race until a kilometer remained of the race.

Delfino (Speedy Blue) attacked three wide from third over at that point and first over trotter Diable de Vauvert couldn’t defend himself when Matthieu Mottier sent Delfino towards the leader Galius. Delfino disarmed the leader at the stretch and held on to safe win in mile rate 1:56.4 over 1.7 miles. Cash du Rib and Elie de Beaufour took the places behind the winner.

DELAYED FINAL TO VINCERO’ GAR

The $120,000 Gran Premio Citta’ di Montecatini was scheduled on Monday (Aug. 15) night and two eliminations were held before heavy rain in the area forced the organizers to cancel the final.

Goop’s Diamanten (Adrian Chip) and Alessandro Gocciadoro’s Vernissage Grif (Varenne) won the eliminations, respectively, and the track officers in Montecatini decided to race the final on Tuesday (Aug. 16) night.

Diamanten and Vernissage Grif were the horses that kept the pace up high in the race but outside trotter Vernissage Grif couldn’t challenge for the win as he ran out of power in the last turn on the half-mile track. Second over Vincero’ Gar, driven by Pietro Gubellini, attacked three wide in the last turn and the S.J.’s Photo son sprinted to safe win in 1:54.3.

Cokstile finished strongly as the runner up ahead of leader Diamanten.

Adam Ström stalltz

San Moteur in the winner’s circle.