On July 21 at Bergsaker in Sweden harness racing action showcased another victory by unbeaten even-money favorite Diamanten (3m Adrian Chip-Lata Kell-Ata Star L) with trainer Robert Bergh up. The winner scored in the 250,000SEK first money Norrlands Elitserie Final for three year-olds over 2140 meters, to remain perfect in eight career starts, five in 2016. He was timed in 1.13.1kr to defeat 2.4/1 Electric Light (3m Going Kronos-USA Hornline-Giant Hit) and Per Lennartsson with 8.6/1 Mindyouvalue WF (3m Hovding Lavec-Mind Your Manners-Dahir de Prelong) third, driven by Ulf Eriksson.
On that card, the Gr. II International Norrlands Grand Prix (300,000SEK to winner, 2140 meters autostart) went to 4/5 favorite Cruzado dela Noche (4m Muscle Massive-Alldade-Credit Winner) for Per Linderoth, trainer Stefan Melander and owner Courant AB. He scored in 1.11.4kr to improve his career slate to 8-3-7 in 30 starts for earning of 3,024,736SEK. 2.6/1 Tobin Kronos (4m Muscle Hill-Zamia FC-Sugarcane Hanover) was second for Ulf Ohlsson and third was 32/1 Cupido Sisu (4g Judge Joe-Dream Hanover-Pine Chip) for Per Lennartsson.
Earlier aged trotters contested the 100,000SEK first money Mittoljor over 2640 meters autostart and the 1.14.4kr winner was 1.8/1 Vasterbo Loveboat (6g Love You-Vasterbo Highclass-Pine Chip) with Erik Adielsson. 42/1 Kung Toll (10g Giant Cat-Flossy Lobell-Speedy Somolli) was second for Krister Soderholm ahead of 4.9/1 Poochai handled by Ulf Ohlsson. Luckycharm Hanover was unplaced in this event. Also, the Grand Prix Sprint (50,000SEK to winner, 1609 meters autostart) went to 1.12.7kr timed 5/2 odds Bloody Valentine (5f Dream Vacation-Excellent-Supergill) with Stefan Edin driving. Castle Rose and Pandora Diamant were next to finish.
Thomas H. Hicks