July 2, 2015 – At Halmstad Sweden a large crowd estimated at 10,000 watched and wagered on a great harness racing card headed by the Gr. I International Sprinter Masters contested in three eliminations and a 10-horse final.
Each event was 1609 meters autostart with elim winners earning 100,000SEK and the final winner earning 940,960SEK.
Stefan Melander’s Nuncio swept to victory by winning the first elimination in a mile rate of 1:54.08 by three lengths in gate to wire fashion over Whitehouse Express. After the next two elims went to Hillustrious in a close heated battle with Valstead in 1:52.31 and Jontte Boy in 1:55.52 in elim three, the ten finalists faced the starter in the final with Hillustrious from post one for Johnny Takter, Nuncio from post two and Valstead from post five for Orjan Kihlstrom. As in the second elim Hillustrious and Valstead faced off as a pair with Valstead on the outer followed by stablemate Nuncio. Off the top turn Melander moved Nuncio three-wide to attack and he out-sprinted the leading pair for a neck win in 1:52.63 with Valstead and Hillustrious next. It was quite a race and a special night of racing overall.
Below recaps the eliminations won by Nuncio, Hillustrious and Jontte Boy with the top three finishers:
Elim 1 (1.10.9kr, or 1:54.08)
Nuncio (4m Andover Hall-Nicole Isabelle-Lindy Lane), trainer/driver Stefan Melander for Stall TZ, now 19-11-2 in 32 starts for 15,517,726SEK earned as he led comfortably throughout for a three length score
Whitehouse Express (4m Yankee Glide-Miss Garland-Garland Lobell), Erik Adielsson up for Daniel Reden trainer for Stall Zet was second
King City (4m Muscle Hill-Creamy Mimi-Conway Hall), Orjan Kihlstrom for Roger Walmann trainer for AB Svensk Reklamfinons.
Nuncio winning his heat
Elim 2 (1.09.8kr, or 1:52.31)
Hillustrious (4m Muscle Hill-Mom’s Millionaire-Pine Chip), Johnny Takter up for owner SMUAB Smolandsugar AB, a head winner after a lengthy alongside battle with parked Valstead (this one a half-brother to Snow White, multiple dominant two year-old winner in US – Acorn, Breeders Crown, Goldsmith Maid, Oakville, NJSS and International Stallion Stake)
Valstead (4m Cantab Hall-Madame Volo-Yankee Glide), Orjan Kihlstrom up for trainer Stefan Melander and Stall TZ owner, with a game death-seat situation
Elton Attack (4m Gigant Neo-P Bird Mon Amie-Prince Mystic), Christoffer Eriksson up for trainer Tomas Malmqvist and owners Malmqvist and Baltic Stable
Elim 3 (1.11.8kr, 1:55.52)
Jontte Boy (4m Love You-South Hanover-Andover Hall), driver/trainer Toumas Korvenoja up
Be Spontaneous (4m Andover Hall-Inspired Society-Self Possessed), Erik Adielsson up for Daniel Reden
Explosive Dust (4m Sahara Dynamite-Exclusive Dust-Pine Chip), Orjan Kihlstrom up for trainer Roger Walmann
Nuncio rallied late to capture the final from post two at 1.34/1 odds. He followed stablemate Valstead on the outer as Valstead boldly battled pacesetter Hillustrious throughout. The top three finishers were within a long neck of each other on the line. Nuncio recorded his 20th career victory in 33 starts now with earnings of 16,458,686SEK earned.
Final (1.10.1kr, or 1:52.63 mile rate)
Nuncio, Stefan Melander up
Valstead, Orjan Kihlstrom
Hillustrious, Johnny Takter
King City, Kenneth Haugstad
Whitehiouse Express, Erik Adielsson
Sylvester America, Bjorn Goop
Nuncio winning the Final
Nuncio again proved his versatility and toughness at the sprinter distance and in multiple-heats,
Thomas H. Hicks