by Thomas Hedlund

Young trotters — 2-year-olds — battled in Saturday’s (Oct. 21) $100,000 Svampen in Örebro, Sweden and the event became a sunshine story for trainer Fredrik Wallin.

Wallin has climbed the ladder of success, step by step, during the past four-to-five years and it’s not uncommon that his horses claim trophies in some of the biggest races in Sweden. When the Svampen was held Saturday, Wallin had two horses in the field and it ended with victory for Matchmadeinheaven (S.J.’s Caviar), bred, owned and trained by Wallin. Five prior starts before the Svampen had not indicated that Matchmadeinheaven would be a factor in a high stakes race, but a covered trip and full attack at the top of the stretch was enough for the S.J.’s Caviar daughter this time. Rikard N. Skoglund sat in the bike and the duo came home in a moderate 2:02 mile.

SOUTHWIND FRANK TO ITALY

Southwind Frank (Muscle Hill—Flawless Lindy) is on his way to Europe and Italy where he will serve as stud for new owner My Horse Stable at Centro Equino Delle Stelle in Piemonte.

Southwind Frank has registered 222 offspring America and in two seasons he has bred over 100 mares.

THREE IN A ROW FOR VIVID WISE AS?

Alessandro Gocciadoro-trained Vivid Wise As (Yankee Glide), who finished third behind Hohneck and Go On Boy in the $515,000 UET Elite Circuit Finale on Oct. 14, will try to capture his third win in a row in the prestigious $225,000 Gran Premio Delle Nazioni in Milan over 1.4 miles on Sunday (Oct. 29).

Vivid Wise As, paired with Matthieu Abrivard, has claimed the title in the race in 2021 and 2022 and the Sunday task seems suitable for Gocciadoro’s trotter.

In Malmö, Sweden, the $75,000 C.L. Müllers Memorial over 1.6 miles on Saturday (Oct. 28) afternoon has attracted some interesting horses.

Åby Stora Pris winner Admiral As (Ready Cash) will face fresh Swedish Champion Power (Googoo Gaagaa) and the race is included in this week’s V٧٥ in Sweden.

GRAN PREMIO DELLE NAZIONI 2023

Horse — Driver

1. Charmant de Zack — Alessandro Gocciadoro

2. Heliade du Goutier — Giampaolo Minnucci

3. Vivid Wise As — Matthieu Abrivard

4. Capital Mail — Gabriele Gelormini

5. Cokstile — V.P. Dell’Annunziata

6. Usain Töll — M. Volpato

7. Go On Boy — Romain Derieux

8. Chance Ek — Pietro Gubellini

9. City Lux — Riccardo Pezzatini