by Thomas Hedlund

Solvalla’s massive race card on Saturday (Oct. 14) afternoon was about to end track when strong winds and heavy rainstorms swept over the Stockholm area at the same moment as Elitloppet winner Hohneck (Royal Dream) hit the wire first in the $515,000 UET Elite Circuit Finale.

Instead of cheering the great winner, the audience had to seek cover indoors and Hohneck really deserved a sunny celebration after his impressive performance in the race. Gabriele Gelormini sent Philippe Allaire’s trotter to the lead after 300 meters, when Stoletheshow was in front and when Gelormini more or less stole the race on the lead, putting his trust in Hohneck during the race’s last kilometer. Hohneck is a phenomenal technician and it seems like he is more efficient on a five-eighths-mile track, conditions that he basically never faces in his home country of France, where the tracks are much longer.

Hohneck likes Solvalla. He claimed the final of Elitloppet, from the lead, in May and showed the same great ability when Allaire chose to return to Sweden with his horse. Gelormini stepped on the gas pedal in the last turn and Hohneck answered by leaving his opponents several lengths behind. The home stretch journey was a pleasant one for Gelormini and after a final :26.4 quarter, the victory was outstanding in a mile rate of 1:52.4 over 1.3 miles.

Replayhere.

France dominated the race totally as Go On Boy (runner up behind Hohneck even in Elitloppet) was second while Italian bred Vivid Wise As finished third.

Allaire could have been even more happy shortly after the triumph in the UET Elite Circuit Finale as his Just A Gigolo was fighting for the win in the $440,000 UET Grand Prix for 4-year-olds. Franck Nivard sat in the bike behind Just A Gigolo and the three wide attack was set in motion on the back stretch, with a half mile to go, but Just A Gigolo had to struggle a bit with his gait throughout the last turn and that cost energy and valuable meters for Allaire’s horse.

Adrian Kolgjini was runner up in the Swedish Derby in September with his Barack Face (Ready Cash), beaten by Joviality. Inthe UET Grand Prix, Kolgjini got his revenge. Barack Face got a first over trip, outside of leader Dancer Brodde and Joviality had disappeared by making a break shortly after the start, so the biggest threat for Barack Face was, probably Just A Gigolo. But Barack Face proved strongest and best this day. He held Just A Gigolo behind him by a neck and Adrian Kolgjini experienced one of his best moments in his career as a trainer. The Kolgjini family have had big expectations for the well-bred Ready Cash son with Lisa America as his dam.

Replayhere.

TIMO NURMOS DOMINATED TOTALLY

Solvalla trainer Timo Nurmos is well merited when it comes to winning the biggest races for 3-year-old trotters in Sweden and on Saturday (Oct. 14) afternoon he totally dominated.

In the $735,000 Kriteriet, open for all Swedish bred 3-year-olds, Nurmos had three horses, all undefeated before Saturday’s event and it was Fame And Glory (Tactical Landing) that gave Nurmos his eighth victory in the Kriteriet. The half-brother of Calgary Games attacked from fourth over when the field turned into the last lap in the 2,640 meters long race and early leader Kuiper, who got very eager when he reached the front, became easy prey for Fame And Glory with a half mile to go.

Fame And Glory swept to the lead, got a two-to-three length advantage and driver Björn Goop noted that none of the opponents got closer in the last turn. So, Goop gave another signal to his horse at the top of the stretch and Fame And Glory danced to a safe victory in a strong mile rate of 1:56.3 over 1.6 miles.

Replay here.

Nurmos’ Our Pride did the heavy job first over and held strongly for third place. Tomas Malmqvist trained Fiftyfour finished strongly as the runner up behind the superior winner.

Nurmos had earlier on the day already claimed the $550,000 Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. Adriatica (Bold Eagle) showed strength and moral finer that is rarely seen among fillies at this age. From post 8 behind the car, Adriatica had to race three wide during the race’s first 650 meters in order to hit the position first over.

Magnus Djuse drove Adriatica in the elimination where the duo finished second and proof of the horse’s capacity became clear when he opted to drive her in the final, even if Djuse won with other horses in the eliminations.

Adriatica struggled with the power in the end of the last turn, at least it looked that way, but she fought back and held her head first at the wire. For her strong effort, she won in a mile rate of 1:56.3 over 1.3 miles. Ninetta Boko finished quickly as runner up ahead of Elegance Kronos.

Nurmos claimed his fourth title in the Oaks, his first came in 2006.

Replay here.

DIMITRI FERM AGAIN IN ITALY

Mauro Baroncini-trained Dimitri Ferm (Nad al Sheba) hit the lead in the $125,000 Gran Premio Giuseppe Biasuzzi over the mile and the drama was basically over. The 4-year-old Dimitri Ferm cruised to a safe win in 1:56.3. The Italian Derby winner that claimed the $160,000 Gran Premio Continentale two weeks ago made it clear that he has found the same shape as when he won the 2022 Italian Derby.