The game FR mare Anna Mix (6f Ludo de Castelle-Ires-Tenor de Baune), off as the 3/5 favorite, captured the €172,320 total purse Gr. I Prix Maharajah European Mares Championship at Solvalla. Erik Adielsson was the pilot for harness racing trainer Sofia Aronsson and owner Franck Leblanc.
She was clocked in 1.11.5kr over 2140 meters autostart off even fractions and she raced in the death seat throughout (1.09.8kr after 500 meters, 1.11.5kr at the 1000; 1.11.9kr after 1500).
4.2/1 Some Summit (5f Dream Vacation-Graceland Summit-Armbro Trick) set the pace, for trainer Veijo Heiskanen and reinsman Jorgen Sjunnesson, and just missed the win. Third was 7/1 Venice (7f Quite Easy-Vivace-Express Ride) from Finland and reined by Mika Forss. Oibambam Effe ended fourth and Nelson Nora was fifth. Well-regarded D’One raced second over for Orjan Kihlstrom and faded in the lane to be unplaced.
The Big Noon for three and four year-olds (purse €43,457) went to 9/1 French Laundry (4m Muscles Yankee-Creamy Mimi-Conway Hall) for Kihlstrom/Melander timed in 1.11.7kr over 1640 meters. He earned his first 2016 win in seven starts and 12th in 37 career outings, now for 5,831,243SEK earned. Jerry Riordan trainee Tango Negro (4m Infinitif-Lisetta Real-Lemon Dra) raced well for driver Christoffer Eriksson to be a close second as the winner rallied on the pegs. Pacesetter Mellby Emeralds (3g Muscle Hill-Mellby Rubin-Pine Chip) lasted for third with Ulf Ohlsson up. 4/5 favorite Cruzado Dela Noche was unplaced.
The Ahlsell Legends (purse €21,701, 2140 meters autostart) brought out great drivers from the past and one of the best, Stig H. Johansson, won with Robert Bergh’s trainee Michelangelo As (5g Allstar Hall-Harmonica As-Mack Lobell) timed in 1.12.8kr gate to wire. The 9/10 favorite bested Pepe di Jesolo (7f Ganymede-Zanna di Jesolo-Baltix Speed) driven by Giampaolo Minnucci with 34/1 Petter Rags (9g Mr. Commissioner-Julia Rags-Super Arnie) third home for Mihail Koslov. Unique Julia was fourth for Olle Goop. The other legend drivers included William O’Donnell, Peter Gerry, Helen A. Johansson, Will Rode, Anders Lindqvist and Bo Eklof.
The undercard also produced a victory for Caddie Lisieaux (3f Ready Cash-Caddie Dream-Viking Kronos) for Orjan Kihlstrom and trainer Roger Walmann in the Wallenius Cup. She was clocked in 1.11.3kr to defeat Rato Royale, a three year-old Credit Winner filly. The Energetics Monte race led off the program as Tsar De Houelle (9g Baccarat du Pont-Vanita de la Motte-Granit) scored for FR owner Franck Leblanc and trainer/jockey Sofia Aronsson, a super day for her.
Thomas H. Hicks