Geir Vegard Gundersen piloted his trainee Support Justice (6m Kadabra-Artisane-Lucky Lane) to a 1.11.6kr victory, in a two-horse race-off, in the Aby Stora Pris (Gr. I International UET Masters Series, 1640 meters autostart, each heat with 400,000SEK to the winners and the final worth 1.2SEK million first prize).
First heat winner Vasterbo Highflyer (7g Look de Star-Vasterbo Highclass-Pine Chip) driven by trainer Daniel Reden was second after setting the pace.
Reden, from post one, took the race-off lead and held it to top of the stretch with Support Justice alongside for much of the 1640 meters autostart. Support Justice then took over and drew clear for a three-length score.
The winner now has a slate of 26-3-2 in 38 career starts, for earnings of 7,634,613SEK. He earned 1.6SEK million for the race-off and heat two victories.
Vasterbo Highflyer won heat one in a fast 1.09.4kr defeating Mosaique Face (6m Classic Photo-Iona LB-Supergill) with Lutfi Kolgjini up and BBS Sugarlight (6g Super Light-Sugarsweet Sid-Sugarcane Hanover) was third for Peter Untersteiner. Rue du Bac and Nahar finished next in line.
Heat two went to 1.10.2kr winner Support Justice over BBS Sugarlight and Royal Fighter (7m Varenne-Froken Julie-Supergill) with Jennifer Tillman driving. Repay Merci was fourth in this heat as Rue du Bac and Nahar were disqualified for going off-stride.
Also on the Aby card was the Gr. II International UET Masters Series Lyon Grand Pris Summer Meeting (500,000SEK to winner, 3140 meters autostart). Mellby Viking (7m Viking Kronos-Naomi de Lou-Extreme Dream) rallied late for a convincing victory driven by Jorma Kontio for trainer Timo Nurmos.
The winner has an 18-4-0 slate in 32 starts now for 2,955,080SEK earned. Alfas du Vinci (7g Orlando Vici-Hillary Clinton-And Arifant) was second for Joakim Lovgren with third to veteran Traveling Man (10m Supergill-Kimberly Lobell-Speedy Somolli) with Ulf Ohlsson aboard for trainer Daniel Reden. Time was 1.13.4kr over the stayer distance. Candor Hall and On Track Piraten, the pacesetter, finished fourth and fifth.
Aby Grand Pris promo video follows. Despite rains a fine audience was on-hand for today’s superb racing program.
The last ten years has seen many of the trotting sport’s leaders win the Aby Stora Pris.
Year |
Winner |
Driver |
Trainer |
Second |
Third |
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Geir Vegard Gundersen |
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Åke Svanstedt |
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Lutfi Kolgjini |
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Fredrik B. Larsson |
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Åke Svanstedt |
Thomas H. Hicks