by Thomas Hedlund

Jörgen Westholm is one of the most successful trainers in Europe, or at least in the Nordic countries on the continent and the 51-year-old experienced some great minutes when Färjestad racetrack played host to the $380,000 E3 finals on Saturday (June 29) afternoon.

His winner in the division for colts and geldings is a real Westholm product. Jörgen is the breeder, trainer and driver to Dream Mine (Maharajah), who entered the final with three wins in four starts in his back pocket and when Westholm hit the lead after 150 meters, his tactics were clear. Dream Mine would race in front, especially important this time as favorite Magic In went off-stride soon after the start.

With Magic In out of the game, much indicated that Alessandro Gocciadoro’s Free Time Jepson would be the winner. Gocciadoro found a spot second over, but Free Time Jepson seemed to be out of power already before the last turn and the trainer was obviously disappointed as his horse finished fourth, many lengths behind the superior winner.

Because Dream Mine was so impressive when he pulverized his opponents, trainer/driver Westholm was probably one of the happiest people on earth when Dream Mine hit the wire in a mile rate of 1:55.4 over 1.3 miles.

Phantom Express did a great job as the runner-up and Dream Mine’s stable mate Conrads Stefan finished strongly from a bad position as third.

In the $380,000 final for fillies, the race went in more of a “Swedish style,” which means a fast opening followed by a slow half-mile and then a full gas operation from all drivers. The problem that occurs when the leader is allowed to slow the pace down significantly is that horses far back in the field are more or less without a chance challenging for the win. 

And the winner, Screen Time Limit (Face Time Bourbon) did everything right this day. Driver Ulf Ohlsson played it safe from the start but could overtake the lead after 500 meters. Favorite S.G.Empress (five-for-five before the final) was obstructed in the first turn and made a break and it seemed like there were no other horses that could make a serious move towards the leading Screen Time Limit. So, when Ulf Ohlsson entered the top of the stretch, Screen Time Limit got a couple of lengths advantage, which was good enough for claiming the big title for trainer Reijo Liljendahl. The mile rate over 1.3 miles was 1:58.

Pretty Be Linda held strongly as the runner-up after a first over trip and Oriana Boko did a great job, finishing third.

Liljendahl has won the E3 before and he is well known for his skills with young horses, which might be the reason why Liljendahl is aiming for a career in America this fall. Kentucky and Florida will be the regions for his new career.