Björn Goop sweeps both E3 finals
by Thomas Hedlund
Two $300,000 E3 finals for 3-year-olds highlighted Saturday’s (June 27) card at Bergsåker Racetrack in central Sweden — and it turned into the Björn Goop Show.
THAI MEDINA OVERCOMES BRUTAL TRIP IN FILLIES FINAL
Only three lifetime starts, a trip parked three-wide for nearly 1,200 meters, and it still wasn’t enough to stop Thai Medina from producing a sensational rally in the E3 final for fillies.
“It’s hard to describe,” said trainer/driver Goop after the victory. You’re almost empty at first.”
The 2,140-meter event looked wide open beforehand, with Mattias Djuse-trained Fusion Blaze (Southwind Frank) going off the favorite. Instead, stablemate Najade Quesnoy (Enino du Pommereux) dictated the pace after Mats E. Djuse sent her directly to the lead.
The early stages were fiercely contested, with multiple horses racing three-wide through much of the opening half-mile.
Morning Rain (Face Time Bourbon) advanced into second-over after Västerbo Sparkly (Django Riff) reached first-over following the opening 500 meters, leaving favorite Fusion Blaze buried third-over.
The decisive moves came from the backstretch.
From sixth-over, Goop launched Thai Medina (Face Time Bourbon) with 1,200 meters remaining. His move was followed by Mezzanine (Gimpanzee), which in turn provided cover for the favorite through the final circuit.
Despite the sustained three-wide flow, the outside movers initially made little impression as Robin Bakker continued to apply heavy pressure with Västerbo Sparkly, who looked like the winner entering the stretch. But the demanding first-over trip eventually took its toll. Meanwhile, Thai Medina was just getting started.
Swung four-wide turning for home, she unleashed a devastating late kick, mowing down the leaders before drawing clear for an authoritative victory.
“The race didn’t unfold at all the way I’d hoped,” Goop said. “I wanted to land third-over, but everyone inside left hard, and when I finally got in, I was last.”
The finish, however, could hardly have gone better.
“The pace was strong and I had good cover, but we raced three-wide for a long time without gaining any ground. Then, when we turned into the stretch, she really took hold. It’s difficult to describe — you almost feel empty at first and think, ‘Can this really be happening?’”
Thai Medina had made only three career starts entering the E3 final, winning her first two before finishing second in last week’s elimination.
“She’s become much more mature,” Goop said. “Earlier she was still quite immature.”
The filly stopped the clock in 1:57 (mile rate) over 2,140 meters.
Daniel Wäjersten-trained Morning Rain closed sharply for second after Wäjersten himself executed a clever drive, securing second-over before splitting horses in deep stretch. Rosie Bros (Maharajah), meanwhile, rallied strongly from fifth-over to finish third.
GROSBOIS GIVES GOOP THE DOUBLE
Earlier on Elitloppet weekend, Grosbois wired the field in $200,000 Breeders Course. This time, he proved just as effective grinding first-over.
The versatile colt delivered Björn Goop his second E3 championship in less than an hour by capturing the colts and geldings division. City Slicker (King City), driven by Örjan Kihlström, defended the inside and led early, while Goop settled Grosbois into fifth-over.
City Slicker first faced pressure from Raidhour Newport (Kadabra), but after only 400 meters Mats E. Djuse launched In The Wind Gar (Captain Corey) three-wide. Stablemate Reagan Boko (Chelsea Boko) also advanced and ultimately secured the first-over position.
With 1,300 meters remaining, Goop made his move. Grosbois swept forward decisively to the outside of the leader before the final lap and from there the race was effectively over. The colt simply proved a class above the field.
“He had an incredibly tough trip, but he was absolutely outstanding,” Goop said.
In The Wind Gar dropped into the pocket during the final lap and finished strongly once clear in the stretch to claim second, duplicating his runner-up finish in the Breeders Course final at Solvalla on Elitloppet weekend. City Slicker stayed on for third after tiring late.
“The goal is always to develop the best young horses possible,” Goop said after completing the E3 double. “So many things can go wrong along the way, which makes it incredibly rewarding when everything comes together.”
Grosbois scored in 1:56 (mile rate) over 2,140 meters, capping a dominant afternoon for one of Sweden’s premier trainer/drivers.
