There was plenty of action off the track before Saturday’s $1,050,000 Åby World Grand Prix, but, in the end, the race was uneventful.

by Thomas Hedlund

There was drama in the days and hours before Åby racetrack’s Saturday (Aug. 10) $1,050,000 Åby World Grand Prix. On Friday (Aug. 9) morning, it was announced that French top driver Eric Raffin had been hit in the face by a horse and he would not be coming to Åby. So, the new driver behind race favorite Horsy Dream was the horse’s trainer Pierre Belloche.

Later on Friday night, contender Oracle Tile was scratched from Åby World Grand Prix, due to a small violation of medication rules. Trainer Kristian Malmin had used a hoof product called Hoof Hardener, which is banned within 96 hours before a race in Sweden. Bad luck and nothing big in terms of a violation, but still, it meant no race for the Norwegian-trained trotter this time.

Nine of the best trotters in the world were supposed to gather behind the gate on Saturday afternoon. Francesco Zet, San Moteur and Horsy Dream are all superstars in the business and a race including these three horses is a dream. However, hours before the race, the track’s veterinarian scratched Alessandro Gocciadoro’s Banderas Bi because of a wound on one of the Italian horse’s hoofs. The veterinarian surely did his job correctly, but at the same time, one can’t help but think that the Olympic Games, with restrictive actions connected to a horse’s well-being, played a role when the decision was made to leave Banderas Bi out of the race.

Swedish media showed footage of Banderas Bi’s left front hoof, where a flap, not big, was seen. It will be interesting to see if this case is precedent-setting for future cases involving vets. It is correct to scratch a horse with a wound like this, but, at the same time, there are lots of horses competing with similar wounds — or even in worse shape — where the veterinarians never act at all.

That left eight horses chasing the biggest purse ever offered to a trotter in Sweden. While there was considerable drama before the race, there was none during it.

Belloche did everything right as he sent his Elitloppet winner Horsy Dream (Scipion du Goutier) to the lead after the first turn. Surprisingly, High On Pepper challenged Francesco Zet for the front shortly after the start and, surprisingly again, Örjan Kihlström never really tried to defend the front position, but opted for a position third on the inside when Horsy Dream came to the lead.

Thereafter, the field lined up and the leader controlled the pace. That meant the middle part of the 3,140-meter race pretty much disappeared. Cold blooded trotters run faster than the Åby World Grand Prix-field did at some points. Horsy Dream had lots of powers and speed to use during the remaining kilometer.

San Moteur, the second choice behind the French super trotter, tried an attack up the backstretch, but became tired during his attempt and lost his gait considerably in the stretch.

Horsy Dream was at home when the field turned for home. Even though Francesco Zet delivered an impressive finish, he had no real chance to surpass the French winner.

High On Pepper held strongly as third and the summary of this big event is that races rarely go as expected.

Nevertheless, Horsy Dream is right now the best trotter in Europe and this time the victory paid him $600,000, the biggest check ever for a trotter in Sweden.

The mile rate over 3,140 meters was 1:55.4.

Replay here.

Earlier on the card, 4-year-olds chased the $60,000 in Ragnar Thorngrens Minne and a very impressive Devilish Hill (Muscle Hill) once again showed that he is Norway’s most interesting trotter at the moment. The American-bred (Thomas Dillon) horse hit the lead and controlled the race from that position as he won in a strong mile rate of 1:53.3 over 1.3 miles. An American-bred was runner up as well. Crown was second ahead of Underground Artist.

Replay here.

GR8 – THE NEW WAY OF RACING

Åby racetrack tried a new way of racing on Friday (Aug. ٩) afternoon. Eight horses, battling in four quarter-finals over 1,000 meters, which eventually ended up being two semi-finals and then a final where the two best horses met. And the new thing, besides the short distance, was that the horses had to stay in a particular line throughout the heats. A contender that started outside, had the opportunity to change for an inside finish after 500 meters, and vice versa. The whole idea was inspired by skating events. And it all went well. Eight trotters became two for the final where $25,000 waited for the winner and it was the durable Beartime (Pastor Stephen) who proved to adapt to the different conditions best.

Replay here.

LOOKING FORWARD TO WEDNESDAY

Solvalla’s Wednesday (Aug. 14) race card includes some really good trotters from Europe. The main event, the $300,000 Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg Pokal for 5-year-olds, will be the night’s big race.

Formerly named the Jubileumspokalen, this race has seen some of the best horses in the world entering the winner’s circle, like Readly Express, San Moteur and Francesco Zet.

This year, it might look like the big names are missing from the event, but still, there are 10 strong contenders that will chase glory at Solvalla.

During the same night, the $200,000 European Championship for mares is held and title defender Great Skills will be the probable favorite, even if some really great opponents are in the program.

Both races run over 2,140 meters and the entire night contains great races for different categories of horses.

MARGARETA WALLENIUS-KLEBERG POKAL 2024

Horse – Driver

2,140 meters

1. Bedazzled Sox – Claes Sjöström

2. Delicious Gar – Alessandro Gocciadoro

3. Demon – Carl Johan Jepson

4. Bengan – Ulf Ohlsson

5. Double Deceiver – Örjan Kihlström

6. Emerald Island – Santtu Raitala

7. Hustle Rain – Magnus A Djuse

8. Working Class Hero – Jörgen Westholm

9. Coquaholy – Björn Goop

10. A Fair Day – Oscar Ginman

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FOR MARES

Horse – Driver

2,140 meters

1. Great Skills – Daniel Wäjersten

2. Zeudi Amg – Magnus A Djuse

3. Clarissa – Alessandro Gocciadoro

4. Betting Pacer – Björn Goop

5. Speedy Norwegian – Kenneth Danielsen

6. Dutchess Sun – Magnus Teien Gundersen

7. Gabi Kyvsgård – Nicklas Korfitsen

8. Felicia Zet – Örjan Kihlström

9. Queen Belina – Jörgen Westholm

10. Jennifer Sisu – Mats E Djuse

11. Bunny – Erik Adielsson

12. Aurelia Express – Santtu Raitala 

JUST A GIGOLO BEST IN ARGENTAN

The $130,000 Criterium de Vitesse de Basse de Normandie mile race in Argentan was held on Saturday (Aug. 10) afternoon and trainer Philippe Allaire had great chances to capture the trophy in Hohneck and Just A Gigolo. Hohneck was seen in front early into the race, but before the last turn, Eric The Eel swept to the front and made the way easier for Just A Gigolo (Boccador de Simm) and David Thomain. Hohneck got his chance to get back in the race for real, but Just A Gigolo held off his stablemate by a half-length in 1:53.3.