Today’s Gr. I International Sundsvall Open at Bergsaker (total purse €188,475, 2140 meters autostart, 10 starters) went to harness racing 3/10 favorite Nuncio (5m Andover Hall-Nicole Isabelle-Lindy Lane) handled by Orjan Kihlstrom.
The winner is trained by Stefan Melander for his Stall TZ. Nuncio, bred by Russell Williams of Pennsylvania, is now 8-2-0 in 10 starts in 2016 and has a 34-14-2 slate in 50 career starts for 24,931,376SEK earned.
Off on the lead from post one, Nuncio parked contesting Oasis Bi not allowing that one the front, and then fought off Call Me Keeper (that made a miscue with a quarter mile remaining) and a parked three wide Anna Mix.
In the lane the winner gamely kept a comfortable lead to hold off 15/1 pocket placed On Track Piraten (8g Kool du Caux-Monrovia) with Joseph Verbeeck up for trainer H.R. Stromberg, and outside rallying 78/1 DD’s Hitman (5m Donato Hanover-Deedee’s Destiny) with Jorma Kontio driving for Petri Puro. 15/1 Oasis Bi (8m Toss Out-Up Front JM) ended fourth with Bjorn Goop up for trainer Stefan Pettersson.
Nuncio was clocked in 1.11.7kr, well off the race record of 1.10kr set in 2015 by Delicious U.S.
Replay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Okat-ml0-g
Thomas H. Hicks