by Thomas Hedlund

Trixton became the most successful stallion when four divisions of $360,000 Breeders Crown was held at Sundbyholm racetrack in Sweden on Sunday (Nov. 8) afternoon.

Four-year-old mares were the first trotters that entered the track in Eskilstuna and the big favorite ahead of the day, Mascate Match, was scratched due to an injury in a tendon, which made the race more open.

Mahma Lane and Grande Diva Sisu both opened quickly when the car left the field of 11 horses and Grande Diva Sisu was the one who controlled the field after a quarter of a mile.

Daniel Redén trained Milady Grace, runner up behind stablemate Diana Zet in $420,000 Derbystoet in August, placed in third over, began her attack three wide at the mid back stretch. American bred (Little E, LLC) Golden Tricks, also from Redén’s barn, followed Milady Grace three wide throughout the last turn and when first over trotter Ganga Bae disarmed leader Grande Diva Sisu, much pointed at a victory for one of Daniel Redén’s trotters. Milady Grace (Ready Cash) sprinted to safe win for Örjan Kihlström in a mile rate of 1:56.1 over 1.3 miles and Golden Tricks (Trixton) followed as second ahead of a brave Ganga Bae (Muscle Hill).

The future of Mascate Match is uncertain at this moment. Reports from Finland stated on Wednesday afternoon this week that Pekka Korpi’s mare, who will enter a sale in her home country in the end of December, has a quite severe injury that will take up to a year before it heals completely.

In the Breeders Crown for 3-year-old fillies, Björn Goop-trained Eagle Eye Cherry (Bold Eagle) dominated the race in a safe wire-to-wire victory in a mile rate of 1:56.4. Goop sent his filly to the front from post 1 behind the gate and the opponents were never really close to challenge Eagle Eye Cherry. The Bold Eagle filly established her position as the crop’s number one in Sweden. In the end of September, Eagle Eye Cherry won the $635,000 Oaks at Solvalla and her season has resulted in six wins in 12 attempts and $583,000 in earnings.

Loaded Maria (Trixton) finished strongly in second and No Business (The Bank) picked a bronze medal.

Robert Bergh’s Hail Mary (Googoo Gaagaa) is the king among the 4-year-old colts and geldings in Sweden. Bergh himself was suspended and hired Per Lennartsson to drive Hail Mary in the Breeders Crown final, a task that Lennartsson solved without any problems. Hail Mary was sent to the front from post 3 and the great son of Googoo Gaagaa just played with the opponents in a mile rate of 1:55 over 1.3 miles. Runner up Brother Bill (From Above) attacked three wide with 5/8ths of a mile to go and would have been excused if he ended among the last in the race, but Timo Nurmos’ horse just fought on the outside of the field and showed what a great horse he is.

Guzz Mearas (Muscle Mass) finished third after a pocket trip for Johan Untersteiner.

The last Crown final on the card was the one for 3-year-old colts and geldings and when first choice San Moteur went off stride in the start, the way to victory was open for Mister Hercules (Trixton) and Kihlström. Mister Hercules opened quickly with no shoes from post 1 and Redén could collect his second Breeders Crown trophy when the Trixton son hit the wire in 1:56.1.

Manny Muscle (Muscle Hill) found his space late in the home stretch and finished quickly as runner up ahead of first over trotter Selected News (Maharajah).

Trixton became the most successful stallion with $339,232 in the Breeders Crown finals in Sweden and behind him followed Bold Eagle ($207,617), Googoo Gaagaa ($200,202) and Ready Cash ($185,372).

Face Time Bourbon dominated in Paris

Sébastien Guarato-trained Face Time Bourbon couldn’t beat Zacon Gio in Italy two weeks ago, but when the $100,000 Prix Marcel Laurent was held at Vincennes racetrack in Paris on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 12), Goop placed his drive in position first over during the race’s first half before he stepped on the gas and pushed Face Time Bourbon in front midway through the 1.3 miles long race.

When in front, Face Time Bourbon was unstoppable and the Ready Cash son came home in impressive mile rate of 1:52.2.

Feerie Wood finished second ahead of Gu d’Heripre.

More news from France says that champion trainer Jean-Michel Bazire will get an interesting horse in his barn. Italian-bred Vitruvio (Adrian Chip) will face a winter in France and Bazire will take care of the well-merited trotter. Alessandro Gocciadoro has (mostly) trained the 6-year-old star who had his big breakthrough season 2019 when Vitruvio won several Group 1 races in Europe. Bazire knows what is required to get horses in the best shape during the French winter meeting in Paris and it would be no surprise if Vitruvio is one out of 18 horses when the Prix d’Amérique is scheduled in the end of January next year.

Hambletonian winner ends racing career

Hambletonian winner Perfect Spirit (Andover Hall) has made his last start and will now work as a stud in Sweden.

Perfect Spirit won the $1 million Hambletonian in 2017 as a 3-year-old before he moved to Sweden where he won $231,500 Kungapokalen and $231,500 Sprintermästaren as a 4-year-old.