May 9, 2020 – The Gr. II International Lyon Grand Prix (purse 48,275€, 2640 meters autostart, 12 starters) at Aby on Saturday went to 19/1 Noble Superb (5m Maharajah-Oh Superb-Orlando Vici) clocked in 1.13.0kr with harness racing driver Bjorn Goop up for Stall Marlin and trainer Marcus Lindgren.
The Norwegian bred scored for the first time in 2020 in two starts, and this was his eighth career victory in 21 appearances.
2.3/1 Forfantone AM (5m Muscle Hill-Tamla Celeber-Cantab Hall) took second for Torbjorn Janssen and trainer Roger Walmann.
SRF Stable owns this well-bred performer.
Third was the early pacesetter and 13/1 outsider Maxus (5m Muscle Hill-Gerris Joy-Enjoy Lavec) with Eric Adielssson up.
Stall Zet/Daniel Reden own this one that was bred in the USA by Nicolas Cimino.
Noble Superb
Island Life (9g Pine Chip-Gossip-The Onion) took the V75 Silver at Aby (24,496€, 2140 meters autostart, 12 starters) clocked in 1.12.4kr and with trainer Robert Bergh the reinsman.
He was off at 4.1/1 odds and recorded his second straight 2020 victory in five starts.
40/1 Pastor Power (6g Pastor Stephen-Tobina Passione-JR Broline) was second for trainer/driver Peter Untersteiner and 43/1 Roofie (5g Andover Hall-Passionate Kemp-Lindy Lane) landed third with Stefan Persson up for trainer Johan Untersteiner.
Island Life
The first leg of the Breeders Course (three year old open, purse 19,816€, 2140 meters autostart, six starters) took place at Aby on Saturday with the victory earned by 3.8/1 Balsamine Font (3f Filipp Roc-Issima OK-Pine Chip) with trainer Bjorn Goop at the lines for owner/breeder Scuderia Sant’Eusebio SNC.
This Italian bred filly won for the first time in three 2020 starts and it was her third career victory in eight appearances.
The 9/10 favorite Mr Mah Can (3m Maharajah-Canaka BF-Jobie Tempest) was second with trainer Robert Bergh up.
9/1 A Good Poimt (3m Maharajah-Romantic Lovce-Super Arnie) recovered from an early miscue to land third for pilot Kevin Oscarsson.
Race time was 1.14.03kr with a speedy final 640 meters (the 1500 mark clocking was 1.15.3kr).
Balsamine Font
The Aby card also included four other events each with a purse of 21,679€.
The STL Diamantstoet (2140 meters voltstart, distance handicap, 14 starters) went to the 20 meter handicapped and 11/1 odds Sharp Dream (7f Royal Dream-Sharp Concrete-Alf Palema) clocked in 1.13.4kr with Peter Ingves up.
10/1 Zanzibar Wise As (5f Muscle Massive-Lovely Fame-Varenne) was a nose back second for Federico Esposito, after a five wide surge off the final bend.
Sharp Dream
The Klass II Stayerlopp (3140 meters autostart) saw 6.4/1 Rackham (4m Love You-Red Orchid-Dream Vacation) score in 1.15.1kr for trainer/driver/co-owner Christoffer Eriksson.
This was his second win in three 2020 outings.
Second was 5/2 odds Matteo (4g Quite Easy-Love You More-Love You) for Stefan Persson.
Bordeaux S (4g Orlando Vici-Spot Over-Spotlite Lobell) was third at 13/1 for Carl Johan Jepson and trainer Jerry Riordan.
Rackham
The V75 Bronze (2640 meters voltstart, 12 starters) went to 1.14.7kr clocked Guillaume Boko (7m Prodigious-Proud Mary-Supergill) as Bjorn Goop trains and drove this one for owner Sonja Wewering, his 11th career win in 41 appearances.
He was the even-money favorite and bested 9/1 Ontrack He’s Back (6m Orlando Vici-Keystone Delicious-American Winner) with Erik Adielsson up.
Guillaume Boko
The Klass I (1640 meters autostart, 12 starters), a qualifier for the May 30th finale at Solvalla, saw 7.4/1 Southwind Queen (4f Muscle Hill-Sensual Hall-Garland Lobell) score in 1.11.1kr with Peter Ingves up for trainer Riccardo Bianchi and owner Story Inc.
This Southwind Farm bred filly won for the 24th time in 37 career starts after going 13 for 19 last year.
Zlatan Knick (5g Going Kronos) at 19/1 and 27/1 The Gambler (4g SJs Photo) followed the very impressive winner, one to watch in the future.
Southwind Queen
Thomas H. Hicks