by Thomas Hedlund

Dutch duo Paul Hagoort and Robin Bakker have an outstanding ability to win group races in Sweden and when the $126,000 Breeders Course final for 2-year-olds was held at Jägersro racetrack on Wednesday night (Oct. 4), Bakker steered Hagoort’s O’Hara Boko (Robert Bi) to a safe win in 1:59.2.

Bakker saved some ground in the spot behind leader Forest Jet and with a quarter of a mile to go, O’Hara Boko was given the signal to attack two wide, whereupon the 2-year-old filly easily got the advantage of the race. 

O’Hara Boko’s sire, Robert Bi (born in 2010), was a big champion for Hagoort and Bakker and ended his career with 17 wins in 30 starts and lifetime earnings landing approximately at $900,000 (today’s exchange rate).

In a race where several breaks were made, Monster Wine (Googoo Gaagaa) was runner up while Gimmefive Rain (Ken Warkentin) was third.

ABRIVARD ON TOP IN LE MANS

Elitloppet winner Hohneck started with a 25-meter disadvantage in Wednesday’s (Oct. 4) $105,000 Grand Prix Anjou-Maine in Le Mans, France and Philippe Allaire’s top trotter ended among the last horses when the race was over.

Matthieu Abrivard drove his own Gaspar de Brion (Singalo) and found a position fifth on the inside, which became fourth over as the field turned into the final lap and the serious attack started between horses just at the top of the stretch.

Well merited trotters (beside Hohneck) like Elie de Beaufour, Prix d’Amérique winner Hooker Berry, Gitano and Izoard Vedaquais were all out of chances when Gaspar de Brion sprinted to a two-length win in a mile rate of 1:56.3 over 1.8 miles.

Replay here.

UNTERSTEINER SUBSCRIBES TO VICTORIES IN HAMBURG

Johan Untersteiner enjoys visiting Germany and particularly Hamburg and the $55,000 Grosser Pries von Deutchland. When the race was scheduled on Tuesday (Oct. 3) afternoon, Untersteiner entered the track after winning the race the previous year with Indy Rock and in 2021, Johan’s father Peter was successful behind Toto Barosso.

This year’s weapon in the 4-year-old race was Global Dubhe (Brillantissime), who proved strongest despite a tough first over trip, outside of leader Y Not Diamant.

Global Dubhe fought strongly on the outside and held quick finisher Yahoo Diamant a neck behind at the wire.

The mile rate for Global Dubhe was 1:57.1 over 1.3 miles.

SVANTE BÅTH RETIRES AS TRAINER

One of Sweden’s most merited trainers for the last 25 years will soon end his career. Svante Båth, 59, will retire due to problems with a hip and on January 2024, his name will be among the professional trainers no more.

Båth distinguished himself as one of the best trainers when it comes to training and shaping young horses and his biggest trophies were collected in races like the Kriteriet, The Derby, E3 (Svante is the king of E3), Kungapokalen, Stochampionatet, Sprintermästaren, Uppfödningslöpningen and Orsi Mangelli.

The harness racing business will most likely take care of Svante Båth and it’s no long shot to think that he soon will become a great asset in some kind of broadcasting connected to harness racing.