by Thomas Hedlund

Three- and 4-year-old trotters met in four divisions of the $57,500 Margaretas Tidiga Unghästserie when Solvalla played host to V75-finals on Saturday (March 25) afternoon.

Conrad Lugauer’s 4-year-old mare Narita (Muscle Hill) tried the first edition of the young horse series at the Stockholm track in February, but was handicapped by a post 12 start that day. On Saturday, Lugauer defended the front position from post 1 and Narita answered by easily winning in a mile rate of 1:59.1 over 1.3 miles.

Next up was the 3-year-old fillies division, where first choice Larah Westwood made a move towards the lead when the field reached the back stretch for the first time. Everything looked safe for the leader as they turned for home, but when first over trotter Madewithlove made a break at the top of the stretch, pocket sitter Loveletter In (Father Patrick) got her lucky break. In the hands of Erik Adielsson, the Per Nordström-trained horse bested leader Larah Westwood just before the wire. The mile rate was 2:00.3.

Fourth Dimension has had a promising start to his stallion career in Sweden and when the 3-year-old colts battled, Fourth Dimension son Frank S.H. (trained by Fredrik Persson) proved to be the best after a third-over trip. Driver Thomas Uhrberg trusted his horse and easily disarmed the leader Noah Boko at mid-stretch. Frank S.H. came home in a mile rate of 2:00.3 over 1.3 miles.

The division for 4-year-old colts and geldings was really appealing in advance with horses such as Bedazzled Sox (Brillatissime), named as the best 3-year-old in Sweden 2022, Ante la Roque, third in the Kriterium at Solvalla in September and Tetrick Wania, impressive and outstanding in the crop as a 2-year-old in 2021, showing up behind the gate. When Ante la Roque’s driver Örjan Kihlström wanted to get a cover trip behind first choice Bedazzled Sox, the race turned into quite an uneventful show where the leader had everything under complete control all the way towards the wire.

Bedazzled Sox proved that he will be a factor in the bigger races even this season as he hit the wire as winner in a mile rate of 1:57.2 over 1.3 miles.

The $96,000 final in the Gold division, included in the V75, ended with an impressive win. Jerry Riordan’s Bold Eagle son Aetos Kronos posted a comeback win. Aetos Kronos was one of the best trotters in a crop that included horses such as Power, Don Fanucci Zet and Hail Mary, but a serious illness in connection with medical treatment stopped Aetos Kronos from continuing racing in the fall of 2021.

With some recent races complete, Riordan’s top trotter has shown better condition and when driver Magnus A Djuse opted for a very optimistic trip for his horse, it was understood that Aetos Kronos was back at his best level again. From position first over, the duo won in a mile rate of 1:56 over 1.3 miles.

HUSSARD DU LANDRET A WINNER AGAIN

Benoit Robin-trained Hussard du Landret (Bird Parker) has been racing on the tough Vincennes winter meeting circuit and when the gates at Vincennes opened once again on Saturday (March 25) afternoon, Robin found a perfect spot for his 6-year-old colt.

The $95,000 Prix du Bois de Vincennes gathered several well-merited trotters and Hussard du Landret was one of them. His success can be attributed to Robin’s tactics in the bike. A quick opening between horses resulted in Hussard du Landret grabbing the front a half-mile into the race. Hussard du Landret controlled the pace at a moderate level throughout the race and it seemed to be an easy victory for the Bird Parker son. But Hokkaido Jiel’s sharp finish three wide at the stretch came close to resulting in victory. The photo showed that Hussard du Landret, who was seventh in Prix d’Amérique and fourth in Prix de Paris, claimed the title in Vincennes’ biggest race on the Saturday card.

The mile rate over 1.6 miles was 1:58.3.

Prix du Bois de Vincennes replay.

ETONNANT INVITED TO THE ELITLOPPET

Title defender Etonnant (Timoko) was invited to the Elitloppet on Saturday night.

The Richard Westerink trained horse was scratched in this year’s Prix d’Amérique, due to Lyme disease, but he made a strong comeback in Caen two weeks ago. Solvalla’s sports general Anders Malmrot was relieved when Etonnant showed such a great condition. An invitation to the Elitloppet was obvious.

INVITED HORSES TO THE 2023 ELITLOPPET:

San Moteur

Horsy Dream

Etonnant