Super Sunday for Daniel Reden with major wins in Sweden and Finland
by Thomas Hedlund
Daniel Redén couldn’t celebrate his fourth win in the $480,000 Stochampionatet at Axevalla racetrack in Sweden on Sunday (July 20) afternoon, because the successful trainer was driving in one of Finland’s most prestigious races for the elite trotters.
Double Deceiver, winner of Sweden Cup in 2025, was driven by his trainer for the first time in a race and the expedition to Mikkeli ended with great success.
From post 5 behind the gate in the $150,000 St Michel-Ajo, Redén found a perfect second over spot while leader Callela Nelson opened the first quarter in :26.2, which set up for a fast finish from the acknowledged speedy American-bred gelding.
And when the leader was passed at the end of the last turn by first over trotter Mellby Joker, Double Deceiver started his attack on the outside. Double Deceiver (Cantab Hall) sprinted to a safe win for Redén, who claimed one of the absolute biggest sulky wins in his career.
Alessandro Gocciadoro’s Banderas Bi finished second ahead of Mellby Joker.
Double Deceiver won in 1:50.3 and received a ticket for the $320,000 Hugo Åbergs Memorial at Jägersro on July 29.
Some hours later, at Axevalla in Sweden, Redén had two shots in the $480,000 Stochampionatet for 4-year-old mares and Örjan Kihlström sat behind one of them, favorite La Yuca (Face Time Bourbon). Kihlström was on the hunt for his 10th victory in the race, while Redén chased his fourth.
Stochampionatet is a tough race for mares with eliminations nine days earlier over the distance of 2,640 meters and the final took place in a sun-drenched arena with high summer temperatures, which can be an uncertain factor for some mares.
But La Yuca saw no obstacles this Sunday. Kihlström had to leave his position in third over with 1,100 meters to go and the rest of the race La Yuca was three wide. Still, she was outstanding as the field turned for home. La Yuca danced away to a convincing victory in a mile rate of 1:57.2 over 1.6 miles.
Daniel Wäjersten’s Screen Time Limit was second ahead of S.G.Empress.
La Yuca is owned by Eagles Racing AB; the man behind the name is Tobias Persson, who also owns American-bred super trotter Allegiant. Two very good 4-year-old mares we must say.
FRANK GIO TOPS IN PRIX DE MILAN IN PARIS
Sebastien Guarato trained Frank Gio (Face Time Bourbon) raced in Saturday’s (July 19) $100,000 Prix de Milan at Enghien in Paris. Frank Gio has started quite sporadically as a 4-year-old, but this day he claimed his third win in five starts in 2025 for his driver Matthieu Abrivard.
Abrivard took a safe start behind the Italian-bred trotter, but attacked towards the lead when the field showed up in front of the grandstand for the first time.
It all looked safe for the leader as they turned for home, but outside trotter London really wanted to challenge Frank Gio in the stretch. For a while, London seemed to have the advantage over the leader, but Frank Gio fought back well and showed bravery as he stepped away to a one length win.
The race favorite, Lovino Bello, was stuck between horses looking for racing room throughout the stretch.
Frank Gio won in a mile rate of 1:56.2 over 1.3 miles.
Loulou de Mye finished well as runner-up while London held strongly in third.
The 3-year-olds battled in the $100,000 Prix Henri Cravoisier over a mile, and heavy favorite Ginostrabliggi, trained by Philippe Allaire and driven by Gabriele Gelormini, had to use too much speed during the race’s first three quarters, whereupon second over competitor Mat Manathis (Booster Winner), trained and driven by Alexis Prat, was upset minded and disarmed Ginostrabliggi just before the finish line.
Mat Manathis won in 1:53.2 and Ginostrabliggi came home in 1:53.3.
