Djuse Brothers unstoppable in Swedish Trotting Kriterium

by Thomas Hedlund

Mattias trains. Mats drives.

After setting a world record in his elimination, Nanda Devi Cut certainly hadn’t taken a step backward in either development or form heading into Saturday’s (Oct. 10) $600,000 Swedish Trotting Kriterium at Solvalla. And from the front, he was simply unbeatable.

Mats E. Djuse had Nanda Devi Cut (Maharajah—Himalaya Cut) perfectly under control when the gate released the field for the 2026 edition of Sweden’s biggest race for 3-year-old colts and geldings. The pair reached the lead without much trouble, while one of their main rivals, Steady Spender, made a break shortly after the start.

Po Tay Toes left well from the rail, allowing Fredrik Plassen to secure the pocket with the Björn Röcklinger trainee.
Röcklinger’s other starter, Intro, began from post 8, and Magnus A. Djuse gradually worked his way forward to race first-over. Once Intro settled outside the leader, the race became somewhat locked up.

Favorite Kodiak Zet was taken back to third-over by Örjan Kihlström, who launched a three-wide move with one lap remaining. But that long backstretch proved too demanding for Kodiak Zet, who had nothing left to seriously challenge for a top placing in the stretch.

Instead, the finish belonged to Nanda Devi Cut, Intro, and Po Yay Toes. Neutron Star, driven by Claes Sjöström, also produced a tremendous late rally on the far outside and wasn’t far from reaching the podium. However, he couldn’t catch Intro (Readly Express) for third.

Po Tay Toes (Calgary Games) finished second, giving Björn Röcklinger two horses among the top three. But neither could do anything about Nanda Devi Cut.
The Mattias Djuse-trained colt captured the Swedish Trotting Kriterium in a 1:56.2 mile rate for 2,640 meters.

“What a day!” Mats E. Djuse said. “It turned out even better than we could have dreamed. We were able to control the pace the entire way. Absolutely magical.

“It’s overwhelming, and I’m so happy for Mattias. Right now, my head actually feels empty and confused, even though I had a good feeling going into both Kriterium races.

“Maybe it was a shame there wasn’t more pressure, because now people will probably say it was a falsely run race. I would have loved to show just how good this horse really is.”

For trainer Mattias, watching his younger brother guide Nanda Devi Cut to victory was an emotional moment. It was the first Swedish Trotting Kriterium victory of his training career, and finding the words afterward wasn’t easy.

“We work so hard every single day, and those are the emotions that come out when you win the races you’ve always dreamed about,” Mattias Djuse said. “It feels incredible to have won the Kriterium.”

Nanda Devi Cut also delivered a special milestone for his sire, Maharajah. The Swedish superstar won the Kriterium himself in 2008, and now he has finally sired a winner of the same race. Seven previous Maharajah offspring had reached the final, with Our Pride producing the best result when finishing third. On his eighth attempt as a sire, Maharajah finally got his Kriterium winner.

ZEEBREEZE GIVES MATS E. DJUSE A SWEDISH CLASSIC DOUBLE

The $450,000 Swedish Trotting Oaks for 3-year-old fillies produced a thrilling finish at Solvalla, with Daniel Wäjersten emerging as the winning trainer. But it wasn’t the filly he drove himself.

Instead, Mats E. Djuse completed a remarkable classic double by guiding Zeebreeze to victory.

There was never much doubt about who would lead the Oaks early. I See Tail Lights, trained by Markus B. Svedberg, is exceptionally quick behind the gate, and with SEK 2.25 million awaiting the winner, there was every reason to use that early speed. The unbeaten Nightbird made a break in the opening battle, while Zeebreeze (Gimpanzee—Caddie Lisieux) and Mats E. Djuse were caught three-wide before eventually settling first-over on the opening backstretch.

Favorite Global Halo moved from third-over with 1,300 meters remaining, and Joakim Lövgren was able to advance into the first-over position a couple of hundred meters later.
I See Tail Lights continued to lead, with Global Halo applying pressure on the outside. Approaching the final turn, Kagli Zet launched a three-wide move, but she began struggling to stay with the leading pair with 300 meters remaining.

Then came the decisive moment. Just as the field turned for home, Kagli Zet broke stride, opening a path for Zeebreeze, who had been following Global Halo. Mats E. Djuse immediately took advantage. Zeebreeze found room early in the stretch and set off after Global Halo, who had taken command.

Global Halo fought on strongly, but despite her demanding early trip, Zeebreeze had enough left to wear down the favorite and capture the Swedish Trotting Oaks in a 1:55.3 mile rate for 2,140 meters.

“I really like this filly,” Mats E. Djuse said. “She’s easy to drive and very nice to work with, although we had a pretty tough beginning.

“Things worked out perfectly when Calle’s horse made a break. I pulled the earplugs because I thought there was far too much money on the line not to use them.”

Wäjersten, meanwhile, was far back in the field with Morning Rain and couldn’t make up ground on the leaders in the stretch. He didn’t immediately realize that his other filly had won.

“I’m extremely happy,” Wäjersten said. “Around the final turn, I could see that things were starting to work out for Zeebreeze. Then I concentrated on driving my own horse, and when I saw the cameras focusing on her after the finish, I understood that she’d won.

“She’s a filly with an outstanding pedigree.”

It was Wäjersten’s second Swedish Trotting Oaks victory. Two years ago, he drove Vivillion (Propulsion) to victory in the prestigious race.

Global Halo (Ready Cash) was gallant in defeat, finishing second, while early leader I See Tail Lights (Maharajah) held well for third.

Zeebreeze is both owned and bred by Lennart Ågren’s S R F Stable, which also holds an ownership interest in her sire, Gimpanzee.

Her dam, Caddie Lisieux (Ready Cash—Caddie Dream), was an accomplished race mare who earned more than SEK 3.7 million. Caddie Lisieux was also the heavy favorite in her Swedish Trotting Oaks elimination, but her chances disappeared with a break.

For Ågren, Saturday’s victory ended an 11-year wait.

“It’s been 11 years since we won the Swedish Trotting Oaks with Spoil Me, so this feels really good,” he said.

The pedigree makes Zeebreeze’s victory even more interesting. Her second dam, Caddie Dream (Viking Kronos—Fatima Lavec), won the Breeders Crown and finished second in the Swedish Trotting Oaks.

Caddie Dream also produced Readly Express (Ready Cash), the Prix d’Amérique winner who has become one of Europe’s leading stallions.

That makes Zeebreeze a granddaughter of Caddie Dream and a close relative of Readly Express.

And on a day when the Djuse brothers celebrated a Kriterium victory with a son of Maharajah, Mats E. Djuse added another Swedish classic to his résumé aboard a filly from one of Europe’s most distinguished trotting families.