Bicc’s Tobee gives trainer Törnqvist biggest win to date
by Thomas Hedlund
Maria Törnqvist’s stable is definitely one of Sweden’s most successful at the moment and she has really progressed as a trainer during the last two or three years.
She was lacking a big win, but in Wednesday’s (Aug. 20) $300,000 Margareta Wallenius-Klebergs Pokal for 5-year-olds, Törnqvist had a shot with Bicc’s Tobee (Tobin Kronos), driven by Dwight Pieters. From post 1 behind the gate, Bicc’s Tobee easily held the opponents on his outside and when no questions were asked during the race, Pieters not only defended the front position, but also was allowed to keep the pace at a moderate level.
That meant that Bicc’s Tobee had plenty of gas to use as the field turned for home, while the more merited opponents had too many lengths to make up as the speed increased with 500 meters to go.
Bicc’s Tobee sprinted to a safe win in a mile rate of 1:54.3 over 1.3 miles.
Danish bred Icebreaker finished second after a pocket trip and from third inside, Norwegian Powwow finished strongly in third.
CLARISSA BEST IN EUROPE AGAIN
Alessandro Gocciadoro’s Clarissa (Exploit Caf) proved best when the $200,000 European Championship for mares was held at Solvalla racetrack in Sweden on Wednesday (Aug. 20). This was Clarissa’s second consecutive win in the race.
Clarissa had to fight three wide and in first over before she was pushed to the lead with a lap to go. Nortolanda’s driver Michel Rothengatter opted to let Clarissa takeover the lead since his own horse got a tough trip before she reached the lead.
Favorite Daim Brodda couldn’t fight for the win when she was left first over for the last kilometer. From behind, Olly Håleryd and Great Skills looked strong three wide in the last turn, but Clarissa is hard to beat when she’s in perfect condition. Gocciadoro sat comfortably in the bike as Clarissa won in a mile rate of 1:53.4 over 1.3 miles.
Olly Håleryd was the runner-up ahead of Nortolanda.
HOHNECK LOOKS TO DOMINATE FROM POST 1 IN CAGNES-SUR-MER
The racetrack in Cagnes-sur-Mer at the French Riviera plays host to the $195,000 Grand Prix du Departement des Alpes-Maritimes on Saturday (Aug. 23) and some of the best horses in France will race the mile at the fancy track.
The event was dominated by Vivid Wise As for many years and this year it looks like Philippe Allaire’s Hohneck has a great chance at winning.
Hohneck likes mile races and he has shown great form in his last performance prior to Saturday’s race as he won the Grand Criterium de Basse-Normandie in Argentan recently.
There are some tough opponents in Cagnes-sur-Mer on Saturday, especially Always Ek, Emeraude de Bais, Jabalpur and Dimitri Ferm.
TIME FOR E3 IN ÖREBRO
The shorter edition of the $200,000 E3 (1,609 meters) is scheduled Saturday (Aug. 23) in Örebro where 10 horses in each division battle for glory.
No qualification races were held before the two E3-finals, a progression of this particular race since interest for the event had decreased every year before this decision was made.
E3 COLTS AND GELDINGS
1,609 meters
Horse — Sire — Driver
1. You Bow To No One — Nuncio — Claes Sjöström
2. Urano Unico — Orlando Vici – Jorma Kontio
3. Elton Broline — Googoo Gaagaa – Mats E. Djuse
4. Eol – Walner — Björn Goop
5. Hiram — Maharajah — Magnus A. Djuse
6. Recycle Cash — Ready Cash — Rikard N. Skoglund
7. Ghirardelli — Googoo Gaagaa — Stefan Persson
8. Zarex — Readly Express — Per Lennartsson
9. Nightlife In — Day Or Night In — Carl Johan Jepson
10. Pure Count — Googoo Gaagaa — Victor Rosleff
E3 FILLIES
1,609 meters
Horse — Sire — Driver
1. Global Got It All — Walner — Carl Johan Jepson
2. Universe Tile — Walner — Claes Sjöström
3. El Narnia — E L Titan — Mika Forss
4. Caribbean Lemon — Hayden Hanover — Anders Svanstedt
5. Love To The Limit — Bold Eagle — Björn Goop
6. Bonsse Gardens — Makethemark — Rikard N. Skoglund
7. Ursula — Mosaique Face — Adrian Kolgjini
8. Sasy But Classy — Maharajah — Mats E. Djuse
9. Henessi Joyride — Don Fanucci Zet — Magnus A. Djuse
10. Pure Stella — Readly Express — Jorma Kontio
