The Gr. I International Sprintermaster Final (928,830SEK to winner ($109,000 US), 1609 meters autostart) at Halmstad, Sweden, went to 2.15/1 second favorite Uncle Lasse (4m Donato Hanover-Solveig-Yankee Glide) clocked in 1.09.3kr and piloted by Orjan Kihlstrom.
Stefan Melander owns and trains the US import that was campaigned by Jimmy Takter. Uncle Lasse now has a 12-9-5 slate in 36 career starts, with earnings of 8,543,357SEK.
Second in the Halmstad final was 8.3/1 Breidabliks Nubbe (4m Lindy Lane-Wildgirl Boshoeve-Starchip Entrprise) and driver Christoffer Eriksson for trainer Conrad Lugauer. This pair defeated Uncle Lasse in their elimination, timed in 1.10.6kr.
The 2.6/1 Cruzado Dela Noche (4m Muscle Massive-Alldide-Credit Winner) took third in the final for Bjorn Goop and trainer Melander, French Laundry was unplaced for Johnny Takter as was 1.6/1 wagering choice Southwind Mozart.
The eliminations (first) went to 6.9/1 Breidabliks Nubbe (4m Lindy Lane-Wildgirl Boshoeve-Starchip Entrprise) for the Eriksson/Lugauer team timed in 1.10.6kr.
The 0.53/1 Uncle Lasse was second for Kihlstrom/Melander and 1.73/1 Telecommando OK (4m Love You-Flavia Kronos-Sj’s Photo) for Bjorn Goop/Wim Paal. The elims were raced over 1609 meters for 125,000SEK first money.
The second elim went to 1.77/1 Cruzado Dela Noche (4m Muscle Mass-Alldide-Credit Winner) timed in 1.11kr for Goop/LMelander. 0.38/1 favorite Poet Broline (4m Quite Easy-Candelia-Armbro Goal) was second for trainer/driver Peter Untersteiner, ahead of 14.83/1 Nappa Scar (4m Scarlet Knight-Butterfly Player-Pearsall Hanover), the third place finisher for trainer/driver Per Lennartsson.
Elim three was won by the quick 1.09.5kr clocked Southwind Mozart (4m Muscle Hill-Missymae Bluestone-Mack Lobell) off at 0.56/1 for trainer/driver Veljo Heisanen. 7.97/1 In Vain Sund (4m Revenue-Staro Yasmine-Supergill) took second for Erik Adielsson and trainer Daniel Reden for Stall Zet. Third was 15.76/1 Flash Haleryd (4m Conway Hall-Looking Flashy-Pine Chip) for trainer/driver Peter Untersteiner.
On the undercard was the Travronden for 75,000SEK to the winner of the 2140 meter autostart event with ten starters and trainer/drivers. 9.33/1 The Way I Am (5g Allstar Hall-Nilema Way-Mack Lobell) scored in 1.13.3kr with Petri Salmela driving.
The 8.6/1 Sylvester America (5m Varenne-Armbro Voice-Garland Lobell) was a close second driven by trainer Jerry Riordan for Riordan Stables HB. Third was 4.08/1 Unique Julia (6f Juliano Star-Staro Unique-Supergill) for trainer/driver Reijo Liljendahl.
Saturday’s V75 Halmstad program was an excellent one led by the StoSprinern Final for four year-old mares. The impressive 1.11.1kr timed winner was Italy’s Treasure Kronos (4f Raja Mirchi-Glide About-Yankee Glide) with Christoffer Eriksson aboard for trainer Jerry Riordan and North American owners David Goodrow and Jeffrey Snyder.
The winner earned 557,298SEK in this 1609 meter autostart contest and now has a 6-3-2 slate in 1 starts. She was off at 1.18/1 odds and won her second straight. Bacio (4f Muscle Hill-Lily Kronos-Varenne) was second for Ulf Ohlsson and trainer Stefan Melander, Third was Faye Bros (4f Explosive Matter-Vina Boko-Trade Balance) for driver Erik Adielsson and trainer Timo Nurmos.
The card also included the V75 Gold over 2140 meters autostart for 150,000SEWK first prize. Veteran Harry Haythrow (10g Rite On Line-Speedy Tilda-Spotlite Lobell) scored at 17.2/1 timed in 1.12.2kr.
Another aging star, Spring Erom (11m Gentle Star-Springflicken-Prince Mystic), took second for Orjan Kihlstom and third went to Solvato (7m Donato Hanover-Solveig-Yankee Glide) with Stefan Soderkvist the pilot.
The V75 Silver for 125,000SEK first money went to well-bred US registered King City (5m Muscle Hill-Creamy Mimi-Conway Hall) at 10.6/1 odds. He started from post 12 and was timed in 1.10.9kr to defeat post one Trust Launcher (8g Gallant Baron-Josephine Launcher-Turbo Thrust) with Peter Untersteiner driving in this 12 horse field.
Third was the Erik Adielsson teamed Emmett Brown (5m Muscle Hill-Traci Spur-SJ’s Photo). Divisionist was fifth in this group.
The Bronze Division for 110,000SEK to the winner in the 2640 meter voltstart contest went to Bravo Navarone (5m From Above-Ocean Breeze-Turbo Thrust) for Erik Adielsson clocked in 1.14.3kr as the even-money favorite.
The Halmstad card also showed other interesting winners. A Klass II event for 100,000SEK over 2140 meters autostart went to 1,3/1 Isor Haleryd (4g Ready Cash-Velvet As-Mr. Vic) for trainer/driver Peter Untersteiner.
Tudor Kronos (4m Raja Mirchi-Malibu Princess-Malabar Man) won the 100,000SEK first prize Breeders Course timed in 1.14.2kr at 2.2/1 over 2640 meters distance handicap, overcoming a 20 meter penalty. The Summer Mares for 100,000SEK to the winner of the 1609 meters autostart sprint went to Playing Tua (8f Gigant Neo-Sandy Nalan-Lindy’s Crown) at 1.15/1 for trainer/driver Thomas Uhrberg.
This top mare scored her third straight victory and now has 18 wins in 66 career starts. She was timed in 1.10.7kr. Three year-olds battled in the 75,000SEK first money Euro Classic Next Year with victory to 1.96/1 Ultra Bright (3f Zola Boko-Patina-Viking Kronos) timed in 1.12.5kr for trainer/driver Fredrik Persson. High Beam Hanover and Gwenda di Quattro were next across the line, both by Cantab Hall.
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink