by Thomas Hedlund

Trainer Paul Hagoort and driver Robin Bakker from The Netherlands had a successful afternoon at Åby on May 7 when their Chebba Mil claimed the $205,000 Drottningpoklaen for 4-year-old mares.

When the $105,000 Copenhagen Cup — which I incorrectly claimed is a Group 2-race now (the race has Group 1-status) — was held in Copenhagen, Denmark on Sunday (May 15) afternoon, the Dutch duo struck again, this time with the Conway Hall son Mister F.Daag.

Milligan’s School was in front and got some pressure from outside trotters Stoletheshow and Alcoy, which resulted in empty gas tank in the last turn.

Calle Crown guided the attacks from horses attacking three wide during the race’s last half mile and behind him Mister F.Daag got the perfect cover trip. Robin Bakker lifted his horse four wide at the top of the stretch and Mister F.Daag disarmed the inside horses quite easily.

The German-bred winner came home in mile rate 1:55 over 1.3 miles and for Hagoort and Bakker, this was their second win in Copenhagen Cup. In 2015 Robert Bi claimed the title in the race and in Mister F.Daag they have a horse for some of the biggest races in northern Europe this summer.

Calle Crown was heroic as runner up and Stoletheshow ended as third.

SVANSTEDT DRIVES WHO’S WHO IN ELITLOPPET

When Back Of The Neck was announced out of the game in this year’s Elitloppet, the entourage around Who’s Who quickly called Åke Svanstedt to ask if he wants to drive the Maharajah son at Solvalla on May 29.

Svanstedt accepted, meaning he will make a trip to his former home country to drive in the Elitloppet behind Who’s Who, a fact that puts a great deal of spice into the mile race at Solvalla.

Örjan Kihlström, driver of four or maybe five of the horses in Elitloppet, has chosen Don Fanucci Zet, the title defender of the race.

Googoo Gaagaa son Hail Mary, now trained by Daniel Redén, is invited to the Elitloppet, but Redén hasn’t said yes yet, but it seems like Hail Mary will enter the race after an impressive comeback a few weeks ago when he took a strong first over win in 1:52.4.

The last chance to qualify for Elitloppet is this Saturday (May 21) in Gävle when the $40,000 Prins Daniel’s lopp mile is held. The winner gets a ticket to Elitloppet and it seems like the fans can look forward to an open race where several trotters can win.

Prins Daniel’s lopp

Horse – Driver

1. Beads – Erik Adielsson

2. Click Bait – Per Lennartsson

3. Gareth Boko – Magnus A Djuse

4. Millindollarrhyme – Ulf Ohlsson

5. Beartime – Carl Johan Jepson

6. Brambling – Örjan Kihlström

7. Seismic Wave – Björn Goop

8. Holy Water – Ken Ecce

9. Tycoon Conway Hall – Flemming Jensen

10. Mindyourvalue W.F. – Robert Bergh