Readly Express sires 1-2 finish in Finnish Kriterium

by Thomas Hedlund

Better Leader, a son of Readly Express, proved strongest in Saturday’s (Sept. 26) $200,000 Finnish Trotting Kriterium for 3-year-olds at Tampere. Driven by Ville Koivisto, Better Leader (Readly Express—Tonight Leader) was sitting third-over before launching a three-wide move with 800 meters remaining. Despite the demanding trip, he kept coming and eventually wore down Pinebog’s Bank to win in a 1:59.1 mile rate for 2,600 meters.

Pinebog’s Bank (Readly Express) was game in defeat after putting heavy pressure on pacesetter Coriolanus Frido with 600 meters to go, but couldn’t withstand the winner’s late charge.

Donna Madeleine (Maharajah) closed from fourth along the rail to finish third.

The Petri Klemola-trained Better Leader has now won four of six career starts. Prior to Saturday, his biggest victory had come in his Finnish Kriterium elimination.

The final, worth €80,000 to the winner, also produced a notable result for Readly Express, whose sons finished 1-2. The stallion has previously sired Kriterium winners in both Sweden and Norway and can now add Finland to the list.

A FAIR DAY DOMINATES SWEDISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Epic Kronos was expected to be the heavy favorite in Saturday’s (Sept. 26) $100,000 Swedish Championship at Åby, but when he was scratched Friday, the race suddenly became much more wide open. No one took advantage of the opportunity better than A Fair Day and Oscar Ginman.

Boscha Diablo and Johan Untersteiner couldn’t hold out Ready Star in the early battle. When High On Pepper advanced on the outside, Mats E. Djuse surrendered the lead to the powerful son of Ready Cash.

Favorite Kentucky River was left first-over, and over the longer distance it proved too demanding a trip.

Down the final backstretch, Ginman launched A Fair Day (Maharajah) from second-over — and the response was immediate.

The amateur-trained gelding swept past Kentucky River and continued all the way to the lead around the final turn. By the time they straightened for home, Ginman and A Fair Day had opened several lengths on the field.

There was never any doubt from there. The Elisabeth Almheden-trained A Fair Day cruised home to a dominant Swedish Championship victory in a 1:54.2 mile rate for 2,640 meters.

LA YUCA BACK ON TOP

La Yuca is a champion again. Despite entering the $100,000 Swedish Mares Championship without a victory in her previous five starts, Daniel Redén’s 5-year-old mare was sent off as the favorite. Following a flawless drive from Örjan Kihlström, she left little doubt about the outcome.

La Yuca (Face Time Bourbon), owned by Eagles Rising AB, had hardly raced poorly during the summer, but victories had been missing. On Saturday, she finally collected her first major title of 2026.

Kihlström left alertly, primarily to keep Unforgettable A.Y. behind him. The plan worked, and after 250 meters La Yuca was sitting second-over, with Unforgettable A.Y. following her. Daim Brodda controlled the pace on the front end.

The tempo remained strong throughout, allowing Kihlström to remain patient until moves began developing from the rear with one lap remaining. With 700 meters to go, La Yuca moved up first-over alongside Daim Brodda. From there, it became a show.

Kihlström pulled the hood with 150 meters remaining as a precaution, and La Yuca immediately grabbed the bit again and drew clear to win easily in a 1:54 mile rate for 2,140 meters.

Eagles Rising AB certainly has an impressive pair of 5-year-old mares. In addition to La Yuca, the stable owns Allegiant (Tactical Landing), the 2026 Elitlopp winner and world-record holder.

EUROPEAN DERBY FINAL TAKING SHAPE

Sunday (Oct. 11) promises to be one of the biggest days of the year in Italian harness racing. Turin will host the $1 million Italian Derby, the $440,000 European Derby, and the $550,000 UET Elite Circuit final on the same card.

Four of the five European Derby eliminations have now been completed. Two were contested Friday night (Sept. 25) at Vincennes, producing impressive victories by France’s Maestro Vrie and German Derby winner Fragolino Rosso.

In the first elimination, everything appeared set up perfectly for Philippe Allaire trainee Magic Night (Helgafell) and Benjamin Rochard, who comfortably took the lead after 300 meters. But Magic Night broke stride around the final turn.

That left Mostra de Banville in command and apparently on her way to victory until Maestro Vrie (Village Mystic) began flying for Mathieu Mottier. The Louis Baudron trainee got his head in front shortly before the wire, winning in a 1:55.3 mile rate for 2,100 meters.

German Derby winner Fragolino Rosso (Booster Winner), who has now won 13 of 15 career starts, was sent to the lead by Robin Bakker after 300 meters in the second Vincennes elimination.

The race appeared headed toward a showdown between Fragolino Rosso and France’s leading 4-year-old Mack de Blary. Instead, things became chaotic.

Fragolino Rosso opened up some separation around the final turn while Golden Gio (Face Time Bourbon) and Eric Raffin came charging three-wide. Entering the stretch, Golden Gio drifted inward — or Mack de Blary moved slightly outward — and the two became tangled when Golden Gio’s wheel caught inside Mack de Blary’s. The incident effectively ended the night for both horses and cost two leading contenders what appeared to be likely spots in the final.

Up front, Fragolino Rosso was long gone. The Paul Hagoort trainee powered home in an impressive 1:53 mile rate for 2,100 meters.

MELLBY NARROW CRUISES AT ÅBY

Two more European Derby eliminations were contested Saturday (Sept. 26) at Åby, and Swedish Derby winner Mellby Narrow picked up right where he left off. Daniel Wäjersten was able to work Mellby Narrow (Maharajah) to the lead after approximately 1,000 meters. The pace had been demanding, but the tough opening appeared to have no effect on the Derby champion.

With 300 meters remaining, Mellby Narrow simply said goodbye to his rivals. He drew away without being seriously asked and crossed the wire with the ear plugs still in, winning in a 1:54 mile rate for 2,140 meters.

Peggy Boko (Robert Bi) finished second and Gangster Vendil (Power) was third, with all three advancing to the European Derby Final.

MILADY JOSSELYN SETS ÅBY TRACK RECORD

Milady Josselyn was strongest in the stretch in the second Åby elimination, catching pacesetter Nightlife In with approximately 80 meters remaining. Adrian Kolgjini launched Milady Josselyn (Ready Cash—Uza Josselyn) three-wide from second-over with 300 meters to go. She quickly reeled in the leader and then had just enough left to hold off a flying Recycle Cash (Ready Cash), who produced a huge finish after launching three-wide from last with 500 meters remaining.

Milady Josselyn stopped the clock in a 1:54.2 mile rate for 2,140 meters, establishing a new Åby track record.

QUALIFIED FOR THE EUROPEAN DERBY

Horse Sire Trainer Elimination track

Maestro Vrie Village Mystic Louis Baudron Vincennes

Fragolino Rosso Booster Winner Paul Hagoort Vincennes

Mostra de Banville Hohneck Thierry Duvaldestin Vincennes

Monzon Normand Hohneck Philippe Allaire Vincennes

Magnum du Choquel Hohneck Nicolas Bridault Vincennes

Mellby Narrow Maharajah Daniel Wäjersten Åby

Peggy Boko Robert Bi Paul Hagoort Åby

Gangster Vendil Power Oskar Kylin Blom Åby

Milady Josselyn Ready Cash Lutfi Kolgjini Åby

Recycle Cash Ready Cash Mattias Djuse Åby