Trotting action in Sweden is stepping up as preparation for the 2016 Elitloppet is underway.
Last evening at Solvalla the Solvallaserien III (100,000SEK to the winner, 2140 meters autostart) went to the latest US import, Uncle Lasse (4m Donato Hanover-Solveig-Yankee Glide) at 1.8/1 for Stefan Melander, also trainer and owner through Stall TZ.
Timed in 1:57.1 mile rate the easy winner defeated 24/1 Cupido Sisu (4g Judge Joe-Dream Hanover-Pine Chip) hanlded by Ulf Ohlsson and 8/1 Calno de Pebrisy (4m Ouragon de Celland-Peggy de la Noe-Capriccio) hanlded by Magnus Jakobsson. The winner now shows career earnings of 7,152,027SEK and 10 wins in 30 lifetime appearances.
Several other interesting tilts were on the card. The Deleva Kalls (five year-old mares, 40,000SEK to the winner, 2140 meters autostart) went to Ruby Trap (5f Explosive Matter0Ruby Crown-Incredible Nevele) handled by owner/trainer Stefan Melander.
This half-sister to Scarlet Knight recorded her 10th career victory in 28 starts. Backorder (5f Chocolatier-Fabulous Kemp-Yankee Glide) was next to the line driven by Jorma Kontio and Diamond River (5f Ready Cash-First Out-Lemon Dra) was third for Ulf Ohlsson.
Veteran performers battled in a distance handicap event over 2640 meters for 40,000SEK first prize. The top five money winners faced a modest 20 meter handicap and the top three finishers overcame the penalty.
The 2.1/1 Opitergium (8m Pine Chip-Jovelinotte-Passionnant), from Italy, recorded the win for Ulf Eriksson and trainer Robert Bergh. This one now has 15 wins in 47 career starts. Co-favorite Quid Pro Quo (7m Yankee Glide-Hostage-Express Ride) was second for Erik Adielsson and trainer Svante Bath with third to Nimbus CD (6g Mythical Lindy-Kiss Of Life-Tenor de Baune) and reinsman Orjan Kihlstrom.
Also on the Solvalla card were victories by Makethemark (3m Maharajah-Global Naughty-Conway Hall) for Ulf Ohlsson in a three year-old colt event worth 100,000SEK to the winner. This colt now has seven wins in nine career starts. Destiny Am (3m Muscle Hill-Deese d’Inverne-Korean) was second for Orjan Kihlstrom and trainer Roger Walmann.
Three year-old fillies also raced for 100,000SEK first money and Zahara Goj (3f Sahara Dynamite-Melinda Sigel-Self Confident) took that event for Torbjorn Jansson. Undine (3f Zola Boko-Landlubber-Malabar Circle As) landed second for Kihlstom. Four year-old mares battled for 80,000SEK to the winner with Kryssa Futura (4f Saxo de Vandel-Simb Regatta-Turbo Thrust) victorious for Magnus Jakobsson driving for trainer Tomas Malmqvist.
On Tuesday at Eskilstuna, in the Kungsfors Grus AB race for 35,000SEK to the winner, the victory went to Shadow Woodland (7g The Bosses Lindy-Unlimited Visa-Credit Winner) clocked in 1:54.1f (mile rate) in a 1640 meter volt start contest, a volt start world record.
Ulf Ohlsson teamed the winner for trainer Reljo Liljendahl. Charrua Forlan (6g Up Front Larry-Friska Bar-Frisky Frazer) was second for Hans-Owe Sundberg ahead of the Kenneth Haugstad reined Stylish Hanover (7f Yankee Glide-Susi’s Image-Balanced Image) that Lars Friberg conditions. The race winner Shadow Woodland was bred and is owned in Finland and this was his initial 2016 appearance. His career slate is 18-8-5 in 45 starts, now for 1,670,893SEK earned.
ATG announced that several notables are aiming to prep before month end. Nuncio is set to start April 13 at Solvalla in The Onions race over 1640 meters autostart, his second 2016 appearance. Delicious is expected to race April 21 in a sprinter distance event at Bollnas and Anna Mix is anticipated to enter for the April 30 Olympiatravet at Aby for trainer Franck Leblanc.
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink