Caen’s harness racing feature today was the Prix de Saint-Martin (monte, €38,000 purse, 2450 meters, 13 starters) and jockey Eric Raffin rode Tamerlan(8g Capriccio-Hematite) to a 1.14kr victory, his seventh in 66 career starts. The 6/1 winner is owned by Ecurie Danover and trained by St. Provoost. Salieri (9g Hermes des Pericard-Lysanxia) was second for David Thomain at 4/1 with third to 12/1 Ulpia des Jipes (7f Mon Bellouet-Obiga des Jipes) for trainer/jockey Franck Nivard.
At Solvalla, their Elitloppet weekend began with a series of ASVT Trottex Auktionsloop events each with a winner’s reward of 110,000SEK. The three year-old females battled over 2140 meters autostart and Bjorn Goop teamed Tunika (3f Zola Boko-Verona du Ling-Super Arnie) to an easy 1.14.3kr victory. Tomas Malmqvist trains for owner Stall Tumble Boys-Easy and Tunika was bred by Menhammer Stuteri AB. The winner is 5-2-1 in nine career starts. Magnesia (3f Magnetic Power-Mertensia-Super Arnie) with Oskar J. Andersson up was second for trainer Jorgen Westholm. Second dam is by Speedy Spin. Orjan Kihlstrom teamed Teeter Totter (3f Jaded-Marelle-VikingKronos) home third. This one was also a Menhammer Stuteri AB bred.
The three-year old males also fought over 2140 meters autostart for 110,000SEK first money with Poet Broline (3m Quite Easy-Candelia-Armbro Goal) victorious for trainer/driver Peter Untersteiner clocked in 1.14.1kr by open lengths. Broline International AB bred the winner that is owned by Sven-Goran Sjostrom. Another colt division (same distance and purse) went to Bjorn Goop reined Pacific Broline clocked in 1.14.3kr. Goop is also trainer of the Franck Leblanc owned, Broline International AB bred winner, now 4-1-0 in six starts lifetime, all in 2015.
Another filly division (same distance, purse) went to Facile Boko (3f Virgill Boko-Zacile Boko-Muscles Yankee) with Erik Adielsson up timed in 1.14.1kr. She was an easy winner for owner Easy KB and trainer Svante Bath. Boko Stables Holland BV bred this one, now 5-5-1 in 13 career appearances.
Also on the Solvalla card was the Gotlandssnus for mares (2140 meters autostart, 50,000SEK first money) and Ulf Ohlsson teamed Faith Hill (4f Muscle Hill-A Girl Named Sugar-Pine Chip) to a close there horse finish timed in 1.14.8kr. Stefan Melander trains the winner for his Stall TZ. Lebanon, Kentucky’s Jim Avritt bred Faith Hill. The mares also contested the E-trafik (1640 meters autostart, 60,000SEK first money) and Orjan Kihlstrom piloted Denmark’s Speed Hill (6f Goetmals Wood-Funny Hall-Mr. Vic) to a 1.11.6kr win. Roger Walmann trains the winner for Stuteri Sun Hill, also breeder. Speed Hill is 10-3-4 in 28 career starts.
Thomas H. Hicks