Jepson bests ‘Jepson’ in Sprintermästaren

by Thomas Hedlund

Carl Johan Jepson is the leading driver in Sweden in 2025. Jepson has been in the top 10 among the Swedish drivers for several years, but this season is something special and his development as a driver is strong every year.

When Halmstad hosted the $240,000 Sprintermästaren for 4-year-olds, with two heats Thursday (July 3) night, Jepson secured a spot in the final as the runner-up in the elimination behind Jerry Riordan trained Far Wise As (Face Time Bourbon). Far Wise As couldn’t reach leader Loxahatchee (Greenshoe), but finished well with plenty of power saved for the final some hours later.

Preacherman (Father Patrick) upset big favorite Free Time Jepson in the first elimination and Daniel Wäjersten claimed next race behind Before Takeoff (Nuncio) before Robert Bergh sent J.Kagan Brick (From Above) to final via a safe wire-to-wire win.

Free Time Jepson, Alessandro Gocciadoro’s new star trotter, was the favorite from post 10 in the final and the initial part of the race became furious, with Loxahatchee and J.Kagan Brick in a hard battle for the lead. Loxahatchee made a break in the first turn whereupon J.Kagan Brick became the horse to hunt.

Jepson showed why he’s considered to be the best driver in Sweden as he left second over for a first over trip with a kilometer to go and his drive Far Wise As proved strongest in the mile race this evening. Far Wise As promised a lot when he started his career as a 2-year-old and continued the sophomore season by winning the $200,000 E3 final in August last year.

Now, the Italian bred trotter showed that he’s back on top and he won the final in 1:53.4.

Free Time Jepson finished strongly and approached the winner in the last few meters, but ended with a silver medal. Preacherman was third after an inside trip.

The 4-year-old mares had qualified for the $180,000 Stosprintern 10 days ago and Adrian Kolgjini’s Kilimanjaro Face (Googoo Gaagaa) was the one that impressed the most, which led to a position in the final where she was the horse to beat, according to the bettors. Kilimanjaro Face, bred as a Danish trotter by Adrian’s father Lutfi, stormed to the lead in the first turn and then nothing much happened. Kolgjini was allowed to keep the pace at a very moderate level and Kilimanjaro Face showed great willingness to stay in her position in front of the field.

She was just superior to her opponents on Thursday evening. Kilimanjaro Face flew in the stretch and won easily in 1:55.4.

Elegance Silvio was second ahead of Oriana Boko.

GOCCIADORO DOMINATED IN MODENA

Alessandro Gocciadoro’s Derby winner First Of Mind (Face Time Bourbon) claimed his third Group 1 victory for the season when he won Saturday’s (June 28) $165,000 Gran Premio Unione Europea in Modena, Italy.

First Of Mind came to the lead and had control all the way to the wire. The mile rate for Gocciadoro’s trotter was 1:55.1 over 1.3 miles and First Of Mind is definitely establishing his position as a top trotter in the Italian 4-year-old-crop.

Gocciadoro, Face Time Bourbon, and an Italian bred 4-year-old proved best in the $70,000 mares division of the Gran Premio Unione Europea. Funny Gio (Face Time Bourbon) disarmed leader Faharajah One after a second over trip and claimed the victory in 1:54.2.

Just like the $220,000 Anact Stakes Plus races earlier this year, Gocciadoro had the same winners in both divisions.

MASSIMO HOIST VICTORIOUS TWO DAYS IN A ROW

Finland’s $180,000 Suur-Hollola-ajo in Lahti is not a race for weak horses. Races two days in a row requires strong, hardy horses and it was pretty well deserved when merited Massimo Hoist (Muscle Hill) claimed the win in Sunday’s (June 29) final.

Massimo Hoist was hard to beat from the lead in Saturday’s (June 28) elimination and when he reached the same position after 500 meters in Sunday’s final, Massimo Hoist was more or less outstanding in a mile rate of 1:56 over 1.3 miles.

Massimo Hoist was Finland’s contribution in Elitloppet this year and he was runner-up behind Borups Victory in the Kymi Grand Prix and Seinäjoki Race in Finland earlier this season.

A fun fact about the winner is that his mother, Venice, won the Suur-Hollola-ajo two years in a row, 2016-17.