by Thomas Hedlund

Åby racetrack in Sweden had an impressive race card on Thursday evening. Eliminations for two divisions of Pokal-races ($245,000) were held for the 4-year-olds and the finals are setting up to be something special.

Attraversiamo (Kiss Francais), trained by Svante Båth and driven by Erik Adielsson, had to fight hard to reach the lead in his elimination, but when in front, Attraversiamo controlled the field and sprinted to an easy win in a mile rate of 1:56.4 over 1.3 miles.

Stefan Melander’s Evaluate (Andover Hall) is unbeaten after three starts in Sweden. Örjan Kihlström hit the lead after 500 meters and Evaluate looked perfect when he came home in a 1:57.2 win.

Muscle Hill produces stars in Europe and one of the most interesting 4-year-olds in Sweden is named Campo Bahia, trained by Conrad Lugauer.

A starting position in the second tier didn’t stop Campo Bahia in his elimination and Lugauer disarmed leader Zephyr Kronos with 300 meters to go and won without struggle in a mile rate of 1:56.1.

The final contains three extraordinary elimination winners and the hunt for $122,500 will take place at Åby on May 11.

In the first elimination for the mares, Conrads Rödluva (S.J.’s Caviar) was first choice and Örjan Kihlström left second over after a quarter of a mile, aiming for the lead and the duo could easily take the control of the race soon thereafter. Conrads Rödluva dominated in the crop last year and seems to have developed during the winter. She raced with heavy shoes, no ear plugs and was never challenged in a safe victory in 1:58.3.

Mattias Djuse’s Racing Brodda (Prodigious) was served a trip in second over and driver Rikard N Skoglund had trust in his horse when he attacked in the last turn. Racing Brodde passed her opponents and had control in the home stretch. The mile rate was 1:57.2.

The last elimination for the mares was the most open one in advance and there was a big upset as Zeta Wise As (Maharajah) used open stretch to disarm leader Felicity Shagwell shortly before the wire. Fredrik Linder trains Stall Courant’s trotter and Kevin Oscarsson drove the mare to a 1:59.1 victory.

Qualified horses for Kungapokalen
4-year-old colts and geldings
Horse – Trainer (result in elimination)

Attraversiamo – Svante Båth (1)
Campo Bahia – Conrad Lugauer (1)
Evaluate – Stefan Melander (1)
Thrust Control – Stefan Melander (2)
Ferrari Sisu – Conrad Lugauer (2)
Brothers N.Arms – Stefan Melander (2)
Night Rhythm – Daniel Redén (3)
Zeus Bi – Fredrik Linder (3)
Baritone Artist – Markus B Svedberg (3)
Derby Simoni – Thomas Madsen (4)
Townshend Broline – Peter Untersteiner (4)
Zephyr Kronos – Daniel Redén (4)

Qualified horses for Drottningpokalen
4-year-old mares
Horse – Trainer (result in elimination)

Conrads Rödluva – Daniel Redén (1)
Racing Brodda – Mattias Djuse (1)
Zeta Wise As – Fredrik Linder (1)
Zourane Kronos – Timo Nurmos (2)
Zeta Kronos – Björn Goop (2)
Felicity Shagwell – André Eklundh (2)
Activated – Fredrik Wallin (3)
Intake – Jörgen S Eriksson (3)
Dancingqueendiablo – Peter Untersteiner (3)
Miss Sober – Robert Bergh (4)
Convivial Church – Daniel Redén (4)
Dallas As – Robert Bergh (4)

New names for Elitloppet

Jean-Michel Bazire-trained Looking Superb (Orlando Vici) won last week’s Prix de l’Atlantique ($205,000) in impressive style after a third over trip in the 1.3 miles long race at Enghien racetrack, Paris, France.

Bazire has already Aubrion du Gers set for the Elitloppet and got another invitation from Solvalla after Prix de l’Atlantique. It seems like Bazire will accept the invitation and the Norwegian owner has declared that he is more than happy to come to Sweden with the Prix d’Amérique runner up this year.

The mile rate was 1:53.3 and Uza Josselyn finished second in 1:54.1. Uza Josselyn also got an invitation for Elitloppet and the entourage around the horse have accepted.

Bold Eagle should have raced in the Prix de l’Atlantique, but was scratched.

Sébastien Guarato’s 4-year-old champion Face Time Bourbon (Ready Cash) was the first choice when Prix Gaston Brunet ($125,000) was held at Enghien last Saturday, but an early break nearly cost him the victory. Björn Goop drove the son of Ready Cash and the duo eventually found second over, a position good enough for sprinting to easy win in mile rate 1:58.1 over 1.7 miles.

Looking Superb replay

The field is set for Olympiatravet

The field for Saturday’s $320,000 Olympiatravet at Åby racetrack in Sweden is set and the last qualification race was held at Romme racetrack last Sunday. Petri Salmelas Makethemark (Maharajah) made his first start of this season and from post number one behind the gate, driver Ulf Ohlsson had to deal with the fact that he was locked inside until a half mile to go when an opponent made a break in second line.

Makethemark got out and could follow first over trotter Sorbet before the attack was made in the last turn. Sorbet and Makethemark fought crowd-pleasingly at the home stretch and photo was necessary before Makethemark was announced winner in mile rate 1:54.4 over 1.3 miles.

Trainer Petri Salmela decided not to enter the final of Olympiatravet and the last ticket went to Handsome Brad.

Olympiatravet Field
2.140 meters (approximately 1.3 miles)
Horse – Driver

Bahia Quesnot – Junior Guelpa
Coach Franbleu – Jorma Kontio
Handsome Brad – Carl Johan Jepson
Cokstile – Lars Anvar Kolle
Cyber Lane – Johan Untersteiner
Muscle Hustle – Björn Goop
Propulsion – Örjan Kihlström
Day Or Night In – Peter Untersteiner
Atupem – Santtu Raitala
Milligan’s School – Ulf Eriksson

Elitloppet winner in great comeback

Jerry Riordan’s Elitloppet winner from 2018, Ringostarr Treb (Classic Photo) made his first start since The Invitational Trot at Yonkers in October last year on Monday, April 22. And the 9-year-old champion showed that he wants to race another season. Wim Paal sent the trotter to the lead in a mile race and Ringostarr Treb easily sprinted to safe win in 1:53.1.

At Solvalla on Wednesday, April 24, Heavy Sound (Ken Warkentin) was spectacular winning The Onions race in a season best mile in Sweden. Kenneth Haugstad didn’t have to push the 7-year-old gelding at all to come home in 1:52 from the lead.

Perfect Spirit in easy win

Hambletonian winner Perfect Spirit (Andover Hall) was the heavy favourite in Prins Carl Philips Jubileumspokal ($53,500) over the mile at Färjestad racetrack on April 19.

Örjan Kihlström drove the Daniel Redén-trained 5-year-old and the duo hit the lead at an early stage of the race. From that position Perfect Spirit never got challenged and he cruised to a comfortable victory in 1:52.4.

Perfect Spirit will enter the Oslo Grand Prix in Norway in mid-June.