by Thomas Hedlund

Daniel Wäjersten trained Borups Victory (Googoo Gaagaa) and Daniel Redén’s Francesco Zet (Father Patrick) didn’t have to face each other after two battles in Elitloppet elimination and final since Borups Victory’s next objective was the $170,000 Kymi GP in Kuovola, Finland while Francesco Zet tried to defend his title in the $195,000 Norrbottens Stora Pris in Boden, Sweden. Both races were on Saturday (June 15).

And the two top horses did what the bettors expected. Borups Victory looked splendid in a safe triumph from the lead in Kuovola.

Elitloppet runner up Borups Victory, owned by former NHL star Mats Sundin, got company on the outside by Go On Boy with just over a half-mile to go and the big battle between the two eminent trotters was expected. But the race never achieved the drama we hoped for. Borups Victory was completely outstanding and Daniel Wäjersten just sat back and enjoyed the ride during the race’s last 500 meters.

Replay here.

The mile rate for the winner was 1:54.1 over 1.3 miles and Go On Boy held strongly as the runner up. Jason’s Camden grabbed the bronze medal after a trip behind Borups Victory.

On the other side of the Baltic Sea, far north in Sweden, Boden traditionally plays host to Norrbottens Stora Pris with a midnight sun (hopefully) and great horses. Francesco Zet visited Boden already last year and proved best in his first attempt among older elite trotters. This year, Post 7 behind the gate meant that Francesco Zet had to do some heavy lifting before he could overtake the lead from Castor The Star, a half-mile into the race. The pace was set at a high level, but Francesco Zet was just too good, again, after his Elitloppet adventure, where he ended up fourth in the final. Francesco Zet has dominated Swedish races big time since the fall of 2021 and proved in Boden that he definitely is one of the best trotters in the world.

Replay here.

Redén’s star won in a stakes record of 1:53.4 over 1.3 miles, Castor The Star finished second and Great Skills third.

Redén’s result in Norrbottens Stora Pris is quite remarkable. Well, Propulsion was disqualified afterwards, but he claimed the title in Boden 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2022, Don Fanucci Zet won and last year was Francesco Zet’s turn.

Redén has visited Boden’s winner’s circle seven times since 2016.

NINETTA BOKO BEST IN PRIX DIANA ZET

Erwin Bot-trained Ninetta Boko (Father Patrick) hit the lead when 4-year-old mares met up in the $80,000 Prix Diana Zet at Solvalla on Wednesday (June 19) night.

Last year’s winner of the Oaks, Adriatica, made her debut as a 4-year-old in this race and she held strongly as the runner up after a first over trip. Adriatica will probably be the mare to beat when bigger stakes races are contested later this year.

Winner Ninetta Boko came to the lead for driver Örjan Kihlström and she cruised to a safe win in a mile rate of 1:56.1.

The boys — and mares if they wanted to — contested the $120,000 Prix Readly Express. Kriteriet winner Fame And Glory (Tactical Landing), just as Timo Nurmos’ Adriatica, had his first start for the season in the hands of Björn Goop. After a safe start, Fame And Glory attacked three wide with 1,200 meters remaining and Goop could rest in third over 300 meters later.

Fame And Glory had a great race, but was never close to winner Killiam Fromentro (Villiam), who impressed a lot in a strong wire-to-wire performance for trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro.

Killiam Fromentro won in a mile rate of 1:54.2 over 1.3 miles.

RIKARD N SKOGLUND MAKES A MOVE

Swedish catch driver Rikard N Skoglund tried his luck in 23 races in the U.S. last year and he really got a great taste for the American way of racing. So, he applied for a visa and this week the embassy granted his request. Skoglund will move to America and Per Engblom’s stable.

“This is very exciting and fun, but at the same time it will be hard to leave without my family,” Skoglund said in Sulkysport.se. “Initially I will get a temporary living and the first six months will be like a test for me. This adventure wouldn’t be possible without Per Engblom’s help and I will help him as much as I can in the stable.”

Skoglund will be in New Jersey by the end of this week.