The mile rate was 1:51.3 on a five-eighths mile track over 2,140 meters, but how the trotter did it was just as impressive.

by Thomas Hedlund

Stall Zet owned and bred Francesco Zet (Father Patrick) put on a show in Saturday’s (Aug. 24) $200,000 Sundsvall open trot. The Daniel Redén trainee might very well have put on one of the best performances ever by a trotter on a five-eighths-mile track over 1.3 miles.

Replay here.

The race promised to be a duel between Borups Victory, who came from an impressive win in the Hugo Åbergs Memorial, and Francesco Zet. And it turned out to be more than a duel. When Francesco Zet defeated leader Borups Victory after a trip three wide and, eventually, from first over position, some kind of harness racing magic unfolded in front of many thousands of fans surrounding the track.

Francesco Zet’s crown fell off his head during Elitloppet when Borups Victory was runner up and Francesco Zet finished fourth in the final. After May, the two top trotters had avoided each other and it was clear that Redén was aiming for the big $1,050,000 Åby World Grand Prix on Aug. 10. After late racing room, Francesco Zet showed really great form as he finished strongly behind superior winner Horsy Dream. Daniel Wäjersten chose to decline Borups Victory’s invitation from Åby, due to too many starts after the Hugo Åbergs Memorial and that left us with a most special meeting in Sundsvall.

Borups Victory was the first choice and his followers were surely happy with the fact that Daniel Wäjersten’s 6-year-old started from post 2 behind the gate, while the antagonist had post 5.

It’s been a couple of days since the race went off and the fact the Sundsvall open trot ended with a world record performance by Francesco Zet makes his effort one of the best ever, but also because of the way he did it. It’s well known that racing outside when the pace is high is a tough task.

But Francesco Zet must be considered one of the best trotters ever bred in Europe, after what he proved by Saturday’s show, even if some might say that it’s too early to mention the 6-year-old Father Patrick son as a superstar that belongs with the very top of all horses ever.

Redén blamed himself for the failure in Elitloppet. He was too confident about his horse, he said, and the main goal for the season was the Åby World Grand Prix in August, not Elitloppet.

And if we look back at the career of Francesco Zet, it includes wins in the $800,000 Kriteriet, $400,000 Breeders Crown (two times), $800,000 Derby, $200,000 Jubileumspokalen, in other words, he swept clean pretty much all the stakes races for 3- and 4-year-olds in Sweden and he entered Elitloppet this year with 18 consecutive wins from August 2021.

The 1:51.3 over 2,140 meters was the world record mile rate for Francesco Zet and that record will probably be hard to beat for a while.

Borups Victory held well on the lead, but he had to capitulate against stablemate Mellby Jinx in the hunt for the runner-up spot.

Speaking of world records, Redén has experienced a world record performance in the Sundsvall open trot before. In 2015 his Delicious (Cantab Hall) flew to a 1:52.3 win, which was the best time ever by a mare over 2,140 meters on a five-eighths-mile track at that time.

DJUSE TOOK THE CHANCE

Swedish top driver Magnus A Djuse was, according to himself, surprisingly entrusted behind Jeppe Juel trained Icebreaker (Chocolatier) in the $195,000 Danish Derby for 4-year-olds at Charlottenlund on Sunday (Aug. 25) afternoon, and Djuse made no mistakes in the bike. After an early front position in the 3,000-meter long race, Icebreaker was just outstanding over his opponents in the Danish 4-year-old crop.

When Djuse asked for some more power in the last turn, Icebreaker left the chasers six lengths behind in a mile rate of 1:58.4 over 1.9 miles.

Replay here.

Runner up Isseymiyake Secret finished strongly three wide, but was never close to challenging the winner. Julien Sensei was third.

The 4-year-old mares battled in the $105,000 Derby for mares at Charlottenlund on Saturday (Aug. 24) and Michael Lönborg trained Juno (Great Challenger) proved best after a front trip. Lönborg overtook the lead after a quarter of a mile and once in front, Juno had the race in her hands in a mile rate of 1:57.3 over 1.3 miles.

UPSET WINNER AT VINCENNES

Vincennes’ Saturday (Aug. 24) race card included the $165,000 Yearling Cup-Arqana Trot for 3-year-old trotters and the victory landed in the hands of Sebastien Ernault, who steered upset Largo de Castelle (Golden Bridge). A position in third on the inside eventually became a first over trip and Largo de Castelle showed new qualities as he disarmed leading favorite Luciano Menuet in mid-stretch and won in a mile rate of 1:58.3 over 1.6 miles. Replayhere.

Same day, late at night, Cagnes-sur-Mer played host to the $195,000 Grand Prix du Departement des Alpes-Maritimes over the mile and Franck Nivard sat behind the winner, 10-year-old mare Emeraude de Bais (Repeat Love), who was served a nice trip behind leader Joyner Sport. In the last turn, Nivard opted to attack Joyner Sport and Emeraude de Bais held her pace well in the long home stretch in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Benjamin Goetz’s trainee won in 1:52.3 (replayhere), Go On Boy finished second and Eric The Eel third.