The America-bred phenom continues to impress in Europe.

by Thomas Hedlund

Courant Stable and trainer Sabine Kagebrant opted for the open $780,000 Swedish Derby instead of the $390,000 Derby for mares when the eliminations were held at Jägersro on Tuesday (Aug. 22) night and it seems like the right decision. Joviality (Chapter Seven) continues to impress on Swedish soil and she proved that the loss in the Stochampionatet over 2,640 meters in July was just a one-time occurrence, maybe, because she looked strong all the way home from the lead in the hands of Erik Adielsson. Joviality will enter Sunday’s (Sept. 3) race as one of the favorites.

In the Derby for mares, Timo Nurmos has three trotters in the field and even this race is an open event with several serious aspirants to victory.

Notable is that Johan Untersteiner qualified six horses for the finals, without winning one single race. The two top horses in six eliminations, both divisions, qualified for the big races on Sunday.

Notable is also that Propulsion has seven finalists, from 55 living Swedish bred offspring in his first crop as a sire.

SWEDISH DERBY 2023

2,640 meters

Horse — Sire — Driver — Trainer

1. Coquaholy — Orlando Vici — Björn Goop — Tomas Malmqvist

2. Monastery Boko — Chelsea Boko — Robin Bakker — Paul Hagoort

3. Greensboro Zet — Father Patrick — Rikard N Skoglund — Daniel Redén

4. Barack Face — Ready Cash — Adrian Kolgjini

5. Joviality — Chapter Seven — Erik Adielsson — Sabine Kagebrant

6. Love Keeper — Propulsion — Stefan Persson — Johan Untersteiner

7. Dancer Brodde — Bold Eagle — Johan Untersteiner

8. Jikken — Propulsion — Ulf Ohlsson — Daniel Redén

9. Working Class Hero — Village Mystic — Jörgen Westholm

10. Xanthis Harvey — Propulsion — Örjan Kihlström — Daniel Redén

11. Global Dubhe — Brillantissime — Peter Untersteiner — Johan Untersteiner

12. Esposito — Villiam — Magnus A Djuse — Timo Nurmos

SWEDISH DERBY FOR MARES

2,140 meters

Horse — Sire — Driver — Trainer

1. Mi Amore Bros — Propulsion — Rikard N Skoglund — Daniel Redén

2. Queen Belina — Nuncio — Örjan Kihlström — Jörgen Westholm

3. Julia Sisu — Kadabra — Robin Bakker — Paul Hagoort

4. Jennifer Sisu — Propulsion — Magnus A Djuse — Timo Nurmos

5. Aurelia Express — Readly Express — Mats E Djuse — Timo Nurmos

6. Mary Ann Lane — Orlando Vici — Johan Untersteiner

7. Global Dancer — Carat Williams — Carl Johan Jepson — Fredrik Wallin

8. Wonderful Tonight – Magic Tonight — Thomas Uhrberg — Roger Walmann

9. Bonneville W.I. – S.J.’s Caviar — Björn Goop — Timo Nurmos

10. Bikana Wine — Propulsion — Stefan Persson — Johan Untersteiner

11. Mahala — Propulsion — Ulf Ohlsson — Daniel Redén

12. Mellby Korall — Maharajah — Peter Untersteiner — Johan Untersteiner

LÖNBORG’S MAGNIFICENT DERBY WEEKEND

Danish trainer and driver Michael Lönborg continued his successful weekend in Copenhagen when Sunday’s (Aug. 27) main act, the $260,000 Derby for 4-year-olds, was scheduled at Charlottenlund racetrack. Lönborg, who claimed the $155,000 Derby for mares with Harper (Broadway Hall) on Saturday (Aug. 26) cheered with one arm towards the sky with 50 meters to go in Sunday’s prestigious Derby, after realizing he would be victorious.

Holger Danske (S.J.’s Caviar) was Lönborg’s horse in the race and a perfect, ground-saving pocket trip ended with separation and free space in the last turn, whereupon Holger Danske easily passed leading duo Henrik Will — who made a break at the top of the stretch — and favorite Harpy, who made an early break and then held strongly after a first over trip.

Holger Danske started his career this season, as a 4-year-old, which is pretty unusual when it comes to winners of the Derby. Lönborg’s debut in the race couldn’t have ended in a more positive way and the Danish trainer seemed to be the happiest person on the planet on the winner’s podium.

“This is quite hard to describe, this feeling and I have trouble understanding what just happened,” said Lönborg after the great victory in a mile rate of 1:59 over 3,000 meters. “When we were at the backstretch for the last time, I felt that I had a lot of power to use and I just hoped for some room to use it. When I lifted Holger Danske out in the two wide path, I was pretty sure that he was going to win.”

Not a bad weekend for Lönborg. Two Derby triumphs in two days will be something to remember for the rest of his career.

BAKKER AND HAGOORT DOMINATED IN WOLVEGA

Paul Hagoort-trained Ester Degli Dei (Maharajah) was sent to the front by Robin Bakker when the $110,000 Klaas J. Bootsman TCT Derby for 3-year-olds was held at Victoria Park in The Netherlands on Sunday (Aug. 27) afternoon.

And from the lead the Italian-bred trotter controlled the field and claimed her second big title for the year. Earlier this summer, she won the $155,000 Breeders Course final at Jägersro and Bakker and Hagoort will aim for more big wins in the near future.

The duo had a great day at Jägersro on Tuesday (Aug. 22) night, as the eliminations for the Swedish Derby and Derby for mares were held. The Derbys are for 4-year-olds.

Bakker won with Kadabra mare Julia Sisu and with the colt Monastery Boko (Chelsea Boko), both trained by Hagoort and in two very open races, it ended with victory for the Dutch duo.