May 10, 2015 – On a sunny but cool/windy day in Copenhagen before a large harness racing audience, the Copenhagen Cup (€134.400, 2011 meters autostart, International) went to onrushing Robert Bi (5m Toss Out-Up Front JM-Self Possessed) and driver Robin Bakker by a head in middle distance world record clocking of 1.10.01 (1:52.63 mile rate) over game pacesetter Maven (6f Glidemaster-M Stewart) and teamster Johnny Takter.
Maven’s performance was exceptional and clearly the best of her European venture to date.
The fast closing winner is trained in the Netherlands by Paul Hagoort for owner K.K. Bljkerk. Robert Bi raced second over behind death seat occupant Voltigeur de Myrt (6m Opus Viervil-Myrtille des Bois) and driver Gabrielle Gelormini for owner/trainer Roberto Donati. Robert Bi was off at 7.4/1 ATG odds with Maven at 3.8/1.
In post race interview Hagoort suggested he might pass on the Elitloppet and try to ready his pupil for the 2016 Prix d’Amerique.
Banks went to the front initially with Maven fourth, but Takter pulled and went to the lead early and set a solid steady pace. Voltigeur de Myrt came early but could not threaten Maven and he stalled in the final turn when Maven opened three lengths. Robert Bi was forced three wide and lost ground but once in the lane he mounted a challenge that caught Maven on the line. Backfire (5m Offshore Dream-Fashion Brodda) was fourth and raced well for trainer Tomas Malmqvist and Bjorn Goop in the bike.
The Charlottenlund undercard was excellent too. The 5-year old open went to Tycoon Conway Hall (5m Conway Hall-Golden Sunday-Supergill) and Steen Juel timed in 1.12.2kr over 2000 meters autostart. He went essentially wire to wire. His fifth dam is Stenographer. Napolean CD (5m Orlando Vici-Nagina Light-Super Light) and Peter Ingves was second ahead of the Jerry Riordan conditioned Rossella Ross (5f Self Possessed-Northern Jewel-Garland Lobell) with Johnny Takter up.
The Copenhagen Open went easily to outsider Magiccarpetride (9m Angus Hall-Meadowbranch Magic-Valley Victory) with Erik Adielsson up. He was timed in 1.10.9kr over 1600 meters autostart. Orione Spin set an early pace for Adrian Kolgjini before stopping, and that set up the winner. Orali (9m Great Challenger-Action Elpin-Buckfinder) was second for Jeppe Juel ahead of Monster Drive (9m Thai Tanic-Kewpie-Pearsall Hanover) and teamster Joakim Lovgren. The winner took the Horseman Futurity in the US at age three.
The Summer Meeting Mares event over 2000 meters autostart produced an expected win by D’One (5f Donato Hanover-Giant Diablo-Supergill) and Orjan Kihlstrom, clocked in 1.12.6kr. Red Rose America was next for Kenneth Nielsen ahead of Youana and Erik Adielsson. Youana put in an exceptional show after making an early miscue. The winner gained the lead early in this match, taking over from Fleetfoot Hanover. D’One now has three wins in four 2015 starts and is 16 for 27 in a solid career. She is owned by Stall Kennys Andelshastar and Roger Walmann is her trainer.
Thomas H. Hicks