Spain’s Trebol (9m Hot Blues-Sally Can Wait-Prince Mystic) repeated his historic harness racing victory a year ago in this Gr. I UET Kymi Grand Prix at Kouvola, Finland.
Timed in 1.11.95kr over a rain soaked course on a foggy day the Gabriel-Angel Pou Pou trained and driven veteran increased his career earnings to €654,922 (now with 32 career wins) in this 2100 meter autostart test with a purse of €150,000.
Ten international starters were at the start.
Trebol was off at 12.3/1 odds and he raced in the outer tier with cover all the way before staging a four wide assault deep in the final bend that ended in a neck score on the line. 11.5/1 Univers de Pan (8m Kenya du Pont-Gypsilore) was a fast closing second for Philippe Daugeard and owner Olivier Horvath, this one racing first on the outer until being covered by Timoko (9m Imoko-Kiss me Coulonces) and Bjorn Goop at the halfway point. The Richard Westerink owned/trained veteran started on the outside of the first tier and was rough gaited at the start, getting away eighth. Goop then made a bold three wide brush after 800 meters but could not clear the leading Oasis Bi in turn three and thereafter went a brutal trip. He finally passed tiring Oasis By out of turn four but under heavy urging could not hold off the top two. The top three finishers were all timed the same. Mellby Viking finished fourth for Jorma Kontio/trainer Turmo Nimos) and Pascia’Lest was fifth for Pietro Gubellini/trainer Fabrice Souloy.
The victory by Trebol was his and Spain’s second Gr. I international victory.
Earlier in the Kouvola card Philippe Daugeard teamed 2.7/1 Solea Rivelliere (10f Calife des Noues-Heloa Rivelliere-Pelops) to victory in a 2100 meter autostart contest. This multiple Prix d’Amerique starter was impressive in today’s victory.
Thomas H. Hicks