November 15, 2010

Breeders' Crown Finals

The Breeders’ Crown finals for 3- and 4-year-old geldings/colts and fillies were contested at Eskilstuna raceway on Saturday, November 6. It is a national series that started in 1991, with several qualifications during the year, which lead to four finals with $105,000 to the winner, the equal amount independent of age and gender. The stallion-owners pay the first nomination fee for all offspring of their stallion, breeders pay the second fee and then owners pay the third and forth fee to keep the horse eligible for the qualifications.


Newcomer’s Race

The Breeders' Crown finals are usually the last major battle of the year for 3- and 4-year-old trotters. Due to the long season, those who have been racing since early spring are frequently fatigued, and quite often, a long-shot shows up first on the finish line in the Breeders' Crown finals.


Viola Silas Finished Third

Viola Silas has been outstanding in her crop, but even the queen of 4-year-old fillies tired after a race outside of the early leader Stepping Space. Viola Silas finished third after Pebbly who was trailing Stepping Space throughout the race.

Viola Silas sums up this season with a fantastic result. She banked $450,000 with eight wins, and two thirds out of ten entries. The victories in the Stochampionat and the Derby Filly Division were among her major triumphs. The winner of the race, Stepping Space, also had a great year, and has been a finalist in most of the previous mentioned races won by Viola Silas. She won six out of 14 entries and was on the tote board in nine. The mare is trained by Roger Walmann and was driven by his first lad Johan Untersteiner, who in 2007 set a world record mark with Giant Diablo on the Red Mile in Lexington (1:50.1).


One Too Many Finished First

Raja Mirchi was the next favorite to fail. He was positioned outside Kadett C.D. in the lead and the speed was high throughout the race. When they reached the homestretch, Örjan Kihlström with One Too Many showed up from behind and Kihlström managed to keep his horse focused until just after the finish line when he went off stride. Even One Too Many (by sire Viking Kronos and dam Bourbon Eyes) had a good season with seven wins out of ten entries. He was second after Raja Mirchi in the Kriterium and the victory in the Breeders' Crown was his first big triumph, which bumped his career earnings to $284,000. Stefan Hultman trains the 3-year-old colt.


Aisle Stand Stood Next

Tamla Celeber was best among the 3-year-old fillies during the season, but trainer Roger Walmann ended her season after the victory in Oaks. It was now wide open for another filly to enter the scene and Aisle Stand stood next. Aisle Stand (Scarlet Knight-Twisterella) finished one and a half length behind Tamla Celeber in the Oaks, but won the Breeders’ Crown final by a nose. Per Lennartsson forced Aisle Stand to the lead after 500 meters at 1.10,8 (1:54.0) and knew what he had in the reins. The Stefan Melander trained filly was challenged by Canaka B.F on the outside and both came home at 1:59.3 over 2140 meters (1 3/8th miles).


Prince Tagg - a Sensational Winner
The Breeders' Crown final for 4-year-old geldings and stallions took an unexpected turn when Prince Tagg and Ralf Karlstedt rounded the field and won by several lengths. The favorite Sebastian K got the lead with Alvena Pampas outside. Prince Tagg was placed further down the field and when Karlstedt pulled the plugs and the Norwegian can’t-see-back bridle on the homestretch, they left the rest of the field with several lengths. The winner’s share of $105,000 more than doubled his previous earnings.

October 28, 2010

The Swedish Championship for Trotters

Torvald Palema won the $59,000 Swedish Championship for trotters via open stretch at Åby raceway on October 16. The 9-year-old stallion showed that he still has an explosive speed and after 2000 meter in a very moderate pace, with the Elitlopp winner Iceland in the lead and Torvald Palema behind, it was fairly clear there would be a quick finish. Torvald Palema won the race at 1.13,8/2640a (1:58.4 over the 1-5/8th miles distance).


One of the Best Trotters
Torvald Palema has had an amazing career, with 41 wins in 91 entries and more than $3,500,000 in his purse. He made five starts as a 2-year-old for his former trainer Joakim Lövgren and won 19 out of 34 entries and earned almost $600,000 before he was transferred to Åke Svanstedt in the end of 2006. He has since then developed into one of the best trotters in the world by winning all the major races in Sweden. The most prestigious was the victory in the Elitlopp in 2009. Torvald Palema is still looking like an athlete on the racecourse and the owners are planning to race him next year too.

October 12, 2010

Derby-Weekend

Kolgjini Dominance

Lutfi Kolgjini had another extraordinary weekend when Nadir Kronos won the Italian Derby, The Derby Italiano del Trotto, and Sebastian K finished second in the European Trotting Derby, the Grand Prix de l’UET last Sunday (October 10). Altogether, the Kolgjini-trained horses banked more than $600,000 in a day, and that only a week after the victory in the Kriterium and one month after the victory in the Swedish Trotting Derby which added in $480,000 to the team's already fantastic result with almost 200 victories and more than $4,330,000 in the purse so far.



Kolgjini’s Second Triumph in Derby Italiano del Trotto

The $445,000 Derby Italiano del Trotto was contested at the Tordivalle track in Rome for Italian-bred 3-year-old trotters. The Swedish owned Nadir Kronos, driven by Andrea Guzzinati, breezed home the Derby at 1.14,3/2100a (1:59.3) over the 1-5/16th mile distance. He was immediately sent to the lead and from that position, the Kolgjini trained colt was never challenged. Nadir Kronos finished second behind Raja Mirchi in the Ulf Toreson Memorial and has now been on the board eight out of 14 lifetime starts and has $570,000 on his bankroll. The son by sire Varenne and dam Crown Kronos (by Supergill) was the most expensive sale on the Kolgjini auction in July this year, the new owners paid 224,000 and got immediate return. Nadir Kronos' victory was Kolgjini’s second triumph as a trainer in Derby Italiano del Trotto since Glen Kronos with Roberto Andreghetti defeated Going Kronos and Lutfi Kolgjini in 2006.



Sebastian K added $159,000

Kolgjini himself was in France, at Le Croise-Laroche to drive the Swedish Derby winner Joke Face in the $318,000 Grand Prix de I’UET for European-bred-4-year-old trotters. Joke Face had post one behind the gate, but could not open quickly enough, whereas Kolgjini’s second horse Sebastian K with Dominik Locqueneux in the bike got a better position behind Red Hot Dynamite in the lead. The favorite Sam Bourbon with driver Jean-Pierre Dubois was parked outside the leader with Main Wise As trailing. Sebastian Ernault moved Main Wise As three wide before the homestretch, and when the favorite Sam Bourbon went off stride, Main Wise As could win with half a length at 1.12,2/2000 meters (1:56.1 over 1-1/4th miles). Sebastian K was locked behind the winner and finished second before Sereno.



Bred in Italy, Dutch Owners, Trained in France

Main Wise As (by sire Yankee Glide) was born in Italy and has always been considered a top colt, but his former Dutch trainer and driver Hugo Langeweg Jr has often been criticized for his modest performance in the bike. The horse was transferred to Pierre Levesque’s care a few months ago, but under the licensed trainer Sebastian Ernault. Pierre Levesque serves a doping sentence and is excluded from training.

October 05, 2010

The Swedish Trotting Kriterium and Oaks

Long Live the King and the Queen

The most prestigious races for 3-year-olds, the Swedish Trotting Kriterium and the Oaks, which is the female division of the Kriterium, were according to tradition contested at Solvalla in Stockholm on the last Sunday in October (October 3). The open division is raced over 2640 meters (1-5/8th mile) and the female division over 2140 meters (1-3/8th mile). As so many times before, Tamla Celeber and Raja Mirchi proved their talents, and by winning the Oaks and the Swedish Kriterium, the coronation of the 3-year-olds’ queen and king was a fact.



Won Without Pulling the Plugs

Tamla Celeber (by sire Cantab Hall, dam Amanda Celeber) got the better race of the two. After a slow start, she was the second horse on the outside. Driver Örjan Kihlström moved her three wide with 700 meters left to go and when he glanced over his shoulder down the homestretch, the competitors realized that the race was over. Tamla Celeber breezed from the rest of the field and won the prestigious $148,000 Oaks at 1.14.0/2140a (1:59.0). The Roger Walmann-trained filly made her last entry of the year, summarizing ten wins in twelve lifetime starts with more than $430,000 on her bankroll.



A New Record Mark

Raja Mirchi (by sire Viking Kronos, dam Dame Lavec) showed both strength and mental maturity. A hot temper has from time to time made life hard for him. Lutfi Kolgjini’s colt reached the lead after 500 meters and was then challenged by Kadett C.D. and Robert Bergh. Kolgjini shook his head to signal that he had no plans to give away the lead. With 500 meters left to go, Lutfi Kolgjini ordered full speed, and Raja Mirchi left the rest of the field by several lengths. One Too Many and Tryptophan Ås fought well from positions further down the field but none could challenge Raja Mirchi who won at 1.13,8/2640a (1:58.4), which is a new record mark for 3-year-old colts over this long distance. The victory was worth $238,000, Raja Mirchi has banked $590,000 in two seasons.



Time For a Triple

Raja Mirchi won the classic event Uppfödningslöpning (for 2-year-olds) last year, only eight other horses have managed to win both the Uppfödningslöpning and the Kriterium before. Kolgjini’s colt has the chance to be the third horse in the history to win all the classical races, which also includes the Derby (for 4-year-olds). Last time someone achieved that triple crown was back in 1932-1934 when Etta June and Gotthard Ericsson won all the classical races. It is time for a new triple, and Raja Mirchi has indeed the capacity to do it.

September 22, 2010

Åby Stora Pris

Åby Stora Pris (Åby Grand Prix) at Gothenburg Racetrack crowned the queen of age horses last Saturday (September 20) when Lisa America beat all the stallions in two magnificent heats. In the first heat, she proved her speed from a position in the field, whereas the second heat was won from outside of the leader. After weeks of heavy rain, there were at least glimpses of blue sky throughout the day and the 12,000 in the crowd could enjoy world-class trotting at its very best.


Two or Three Heats During the Day

Up until 2004, Åby Stora Pris was a standard Group 1 race over 2140 meters with ten contestants. In 2005, it transformed into a two-heat race with eight invited horses over 1640 meters. If the same horse wins both heats, that horse is declared the winner of the race. However, if there are two different winners after two heats, the two alone meet in a third race-off heat. There have been two race-off heats, in 2005 when Gidde Palema defeated Steinlager and in 2008 when Garland Kronos beat L'Amiral Mauzun. Last year, Torvald Palema and Åke Svanstedt won both heat A and B.

The posts are drawn as usual with one exception. The horse who gets post one in heat A gets post eight in heat B. The positions are reversed to make the drawn more equal. It adds extra tactic to the race, depending on positions and speed, some horses benefit from two heats whereas some aim for three heats. Åby is the only racing track in Sweden with double open lanes on the homestretch which makes an inside position better than on a standard racing track. Add to that the extra thrill of reversed posts and you have a very challenging race.


Heat A

Micro Mesh with Lutfi Kolgjini sprinted to the front with Opal Viking on the outside and reached the first 500 meters at 1.11,1/1640a (1:54.2). Lisa America was third on the outside trailing Torvald Palema. Lisa America attacked three wide with 600 meters left to go, which forced Åke Svanstedt to advance with Torvald Palema. When they were coming on the homestretch, Torvald Palema gained a few lengths immediately, but Lisa America had still more to give and could finally win by nose. She finished the last 500 meters below 1.07.5 (1:48.3) third wide. Beanie M.M. was stacked behind Micro Mesh on the inside and finished third via open stretch.

Trainer Riordan was very optimistic after the first heat and thought Lisa America would handle two or three heats on the same day well. “These horses are champions. If they show anything at all, they will show it in the next race and not today. Once they are behind the gate, they just do their job”, Mr Riordan said.


Heat B

The second heat got a different scenario when Torvald Palema sprinted to the front and then let go to Beanie M.M. Lisa America had to trot most of the race outside without cover in a murderous speed with the first 500 meters at 1.09.3 (1:51.3). Torvald Palema got a perfect position behind Beanie M.M., just waiting for open stretch. The three were fighting on the homestretch, but Lisa America showed her winner instinct and fought Torvald Palema right to the wire. She won the second race at 1.10,1/1640a (1:52.4), which is a new record mark for mares in Sweden over short distance.

Jerry Riordan was thrilled after the race and tried to describe his feelings in Swedish Television. “I look at Torbjörn and want to make love to the guy, I have never had feelings like that before, he brings something out of me I never felt before. Don’t worry, I am still happily married to my wife and won’t leave her for Torbjörn”, Riordan said laughing.

The daughter of Varenne (by mare Zagabria Dei by Victory Dream) showed the same qualities as her sire. Just like Varenne, she is strong and tough, with a real fighting spirit. Even her psych seems to mature, she appears less stressed and has familiarized with the Swedish racing system. “For every race, it just looks like she’s getting better. I was lucky to have a top driver in Italy for the first three years in the beginning of her career in Andrea Guzzinati. He never hurt her and just respected her”, Riordan continued.

Lisa America has won six of 14 races this year and added $21,200 to her seasonal earnings. By winning Åby Stora Pris she gained the leading position in Grand Circuit, which offers an extra bonus to the winner in the end of the season.

September 06, 2010

The Derby 2010

The Trotting Derby is one of three classical races in Sweden, and for many people the most prestigious race all categories. The race is always held the first Sunday in September at Jägersro raceway in Malmö. It is open for 4-year-old horses with an open and one filly division. The open division is raced over 2640 meters and the filly division over 2140 meters. It takes both strength and speed to win the Derby, and most of the previous winners have shown great result as aged horses too. Victory Tilly won the Derby in 1999 and Conny Nobell in 2005, both followed up by winning the Elitlopp the subsequent year.


The Yellow Jacket

Last Sunday on August 5, was a beautiful autumn day with mild breeze on a crowded arena at Jägersro raceway. As usual, the classic yellow suit jacket was hanging in the winner’s circle waiting to dress the winning owner, trainer and driver of the Derby. The elimination heats were held ten days prior to the final, with the two best horses from each heat qualifying. This year’s Derby contained the most open field in several years. Kolgjini’s duo Juggle Face and Joke Face were among the favorites together with Never Again, trained by Stefan Hultman.

Joke Face had post three behind the gate and opened rapidly to the lead with Erik Adielsson in the bike. Kolgjini himself was managing Juggle Face and positioned him on the outside. The two Kolgjini-trained horses lowered the speed and reached the first 1000 meters at slow 2:01.4. With 1600 meters left to go, Åke Svanstedt advanced with Ågårds Ludde from the backfield. He moved quickly from the last position to outside of Kolgjini, who had no plans to let him pass. The speed was high when Juggle Face fell off stride, which gave Svanstedt the position as first wide out. However, the favorite Never Again driven by Örjan Kihlström overtook that position with one lap left to go and put further pressure on Joke Face. The two left the rest of the field with only G.H.Nemo behind. In the homestretch, Never Again could not follow Joke Face who stretched out and won the Derby at 1,13.6/2640a (1:58.2). From an outside position further down the field, Zorro Photo (by S.J.'s Photo) with Belgium driver Dominik Locqueneux delivered an enormous speed to hang on for second before Never Again. With a better position, Zorro Photo’s speed would have challenged Joke Face.


One For the Family
Joke Face was breed and is owned by the Kolgjini family. Lutfi Kolgjini’s de-facto Anna Svensson is the caretaker and Kolgjini said it is the result of a woman’s love that has made the Derby victory possible. Joke Face is a stressed individual who requires a lot of attention and patience, his stressed tendencies even forced them to remove the sulky before entering the winner’s circle. The son of Viking Kronos and dam Kalmie Melody (by Full Account) has won ten of his 16 entries. The Derby victory was worth more than $221,000, which boasted the horse’s career earnings to almost $327,000.


An Incredible Horse
Viola Silas crushed the contestant in the Derby Filly Division. Vitesse d’Inverne was sent to the lead with Viola Silas first wide out. The speed was high throughout the race, 500 meters at 1,09.9 (1:52.2) and 1000 meters at 1.11,7 (1:55.2). Once again, Viola Silas showed incredible strength and a great fighting spirit. Stepping Space had been trailing Viola Silas throughout the race and came up three wide to challenge, but Viola Silas kept her speed and won with a neck setting a new record mark at 1.12,7/2140a (1:57.0).

”What a horse, what an incredible horse!” Trainer and driver Fredrik Persson was overwhelmed after the race and showed his admiration for Viola Silas. Before the elimination heats, Persson was hoping to test his filly against the stallions in the Derby, but opted for the filly division. Before the finals, he said he regretted that he did not take the chance, but considering how both races developed, Persson did probably make the right the decision. It would of course have been thrilling to see Viola Silas measure her strength against the stallions, but Persson’s decision shows how much he cares for his horse. Viola Silas looked more focused than previously and seems to mature for each race. If she has the physical abilities to continue her development, she will have plenty of opportunities to measure against the stallions in the future.

Swedish Trotting Derby 2010

September 01, 2010

Sundsvall Open Trot

17,000 people visited Bergsåker racecourse in Sundsvall last Saturday, and the audience could enjoy an exciting finish of Sundsvall Open Trot 2010.


The Best Filly in the World

Torvald Palema with trainer Åke Svanstedt in the bike was the even-money favorite. However, The Italian-based but American-born trainer Jerry Riordan had set Lisa America in perfect condition and when driver Torbjörn Jansson managed to keep her calm before post time, much of the race was won. From pos eight behind the gate, Jansson found her a great position as third horse on the outside with Beanie M.M. right behind. Torvald Palema got to the lead with Commander Crowe on the outside. The pair battled through fractions of 1:55.1, 1:57.1 and 1:52.4 in the final panel. Via a three-wide move 700 meters left of the race, Lisa America came up outside of Torvald Palema and showed no mercy on the homestretch. She kept her speed right to the wire and finished the last 700 meters at 1.08,0 (1:49.2) and won the race at 1.12,2/2140a (1:56.1). Beanie M.M. could not follow Lisa America, but finished second before Torvald Palema. “She is one of the best horses in the world”, Torbjörn Jansson said before the race and there were no doubts afterwards.


The Best Sport
Mr Riordan was touched after the race especially since he trained both the dam Zagabria Dei (by Victory Dream) and her dam Donnina (by Super Bowl). Last year, Lisa America set a world-record mark at 1.11,1/2100a (1:55.4) at San Siro in Milan for 4-year-old fillies, but has mixed highs and lows this season. She won Oslo Grand Prix after a great speed on the homestretch and was then invited to the Elitlopp, but did not qualify for the final. She finished second in Forus Open Trot with Erik Adielsson in the bike behind Torvald Palema, but went off stride in the Hugo Åberg Memorial and in Jubileumspokalen, trainer Riordan said the recall of the start made her too stressed. Mr Riordan was more than pleased that Lisa America finally showed her full capacity on Swedish grounds. “You got the best horses, the best trainers, the best sport and the best audience, this is amazing”, said Mr Riordan before he greeted his horse.

The $137,000 winner’s share of the purse boosted the filly’s career earnings to almost $1,400,000 of which $559,000 was this year. The winner was breed and is owned by Guida Italia SRL in Italy and now has 17 wins in 44 life starts. Next start will be the Åby Grand Prix on September 18, where Torvald Palema and Lavec Kronos are among the contestants.

August 25, 2010

E3 Finals

E3 is an annual racing series for European born 3-year-old trotters over two distances. It starts in June with eliminations and then finals over 2140 meters, and continues in August with eliminations and finals over 1609 meters. Each final has an open and one filly division with $107,000 in the purse to the winner in the open division and $87,000 in the filly division. The series continues later in autumn with the ‘E3-revenge’, which holds $40,000 in the purse to the winner.


Roger Walmann’s Filly
The finals over ’middle distance’ (2140 meters) were held at Eskilstuna raceway in the beginning of July. Amaru Boko with Jorma Kontio in the bike won the open division, whereas Tamla Celeber won both the ’middle and short’ distance finals. The 'short distance' (1609 meters) final took place at Örebro raceway Friday, August 20. Tamla Celeber started from pos two, but could not defend the lead. The driver Örjan Kihlström managed to find her a position as third horse on the outside. He attacked with 500 meters left to go and she delivered a great speed, but was challenged by Roxa Sisu who finished second. Tamla Celeber is trained by Roger Walmann, a man famous for his talented fillies. Giant Diablo is the best known overseas after she set a world-record mark at Lexington in 2007 at 1:50.1.

Tamla Celeber (by Cantab Hall - Amanda Celeber) has won seven times in nine outings this year banking $233,000. Her dam Amanda Celeber (by Express Ride - Judy Tim) won four out of 47 entries and banked $117,000 for her trainer Kjell Wallin. She finished third behind Giant Diablo in the Swedish Oaks, the most prestigious race for 3-year-old fillies.


An Upcoming Star
Raja Mirchi was the favorite in both E3 finals open for colts, but he fell off stride in both his entries. Last Saturday, August 21, the rapid opening became too challenging and Raja Mirchi made a break after 200 meters. The winner was instead Deuxieme Picsous with Johnny Takter in the bike. The colt was breed, is owned and trained by Johan Lejon. Whereas Västerbo Face It defended the lead in a quick opening at 1.07.0/1609a (1:47.4), Deuxieme Picsous was stacked behind horses wide out. He got a wide last turn but showed great confident and won with one length before Leclerc and Embassy Caviar, both placed behind horses throughout the race. Deuxieme Picsous added $107,000 to his bank account, which doubled his career earnings. He finished third in the first E3 Final in July, and the In Love With You colt (dame Carmela Strömline) seems to be better over longer distances which sounds promising with the 215,000 Kriteriet, over 2640 meters coming up in October.

August 23, 2010

Jubileumspokalen

Magnificent races took place at Solvalla racecourse in Stockholm last Wednesday, August 18, with the $135,000 Jubileumspokalen as the main race of the day. Jubileumspokalen is one of the highest donated races in Sweden, since 2009 it’s open for 5-year-olds only. Many 5-year-olds have struggled some growing into the elite of aged horses, and with several high-donated races during summer, the new version of Jubileumspokalen is a welcome move of Solvalla and has so far attracted the best 5-year-olds. Last year, Iceland won Jubileumspokalen and followed up this year by winning the Elitlopp!


Stig H Johansson's Nu Pagadi won Jubileumspokalen

Solvalla’s outstanding champion Stig H Johansson counted for another victory when Nu Pagadi impressed and won the race with 1,5 lengths. The 5-year-old stallion has won several big races, among those Copenhagen Cup in Denmark earlier this year. That race was won from the lead whereas he won Jubileumspokalen from a position wide-out. He started from pos nine in the second row behind the gate. The driver Erik Adielsson was resolute, sent his horse forward directly and came up outside of Yield Boko in the front after 500 meters at 1.11,2/2140a (1:54.3). They reached the first 1000 meters at 1.12,2/2140a (1:56.1), and Adielsson could then control the rest of the race, coming home at 1.11,6/2140a (1:55.1) after a very strong finish.

Nu Pagadi (by Love You-Noblesse Oblige) joined Stig H Johansson’s stable in March 2009 and the result has been exceptional. He has bumped his career earnings to $842,000, earning more than $700,000 since he came into Stig H Johansson’s care.


Maharajah is Back

Besides from Jubileumspokalen, Maharajah (by Viking Kronos - Chili Khan) with Örjan Kihlström in the bike won the $20,000 C. Th Ericsson Memorial after an inside position at 1.13,9/2640a (1:59.0). Maharajah was the dominant in his crop as a 3-4-year-old, but has not grown into the elite yet. Trainer Stefan Hultman has since long announced that they are aiming at Prix D’Amerique with the horse, and with those ambitions in mind, he has a few more months to set Maharajah in absolute top condition.

Jubileumspokalen 2010 -Nu Pagadi

August 06, 2010

The Mysteries of Swedish Harness Racing

Looking back, Swedish trotting evolved mainly from North American harness racing and considering that most of the influences on breeding, training and equipment were imported from the US, it is interesting to see how the sport has branched out in different countries. The Swedish way of doing things differs quite a lot, and a few pieces of explanation will be needed. To start with, we use the metric system (one meter is roughly equivalent to a yard) in Sweden so the way we talk about distances and marks make little sense in North America.



1000 Meters Tracks & Longer Distances

In general, all Swedish racing tracks are 1000 meters (5/8 mile). There are a few exceptions with 800-meter tracks (1/2 mile) in Arvika, Hoting and Åmål and a mile track in Tingsryd. The length of homestretches varies from 105 meters (Åmål) to 227 meters (Axevalla) in length. Skellefteå has an open stretch, whereas Åby has double open lanes.


There are basically four distances used in Sweden, 1640 meters (’short distance’), 2140 meters (’middle distance’), 2640 meters, 3140 meters (’long or stayer distance’). The English mile is mainly used for prestigious races only (such as the Elitlopp), except for races at Tingsryd where the track layout is devised to suit the mile. With the given circumstances in mind, a race over middle distance (2140 meters) consists of two laps around the raceway with four turns. These conditions make 1000 meters tracks slower than mile tracks.


The following converter gives an indication of the distances used in Sweden.

1640 meters ≈ >1 mile

2140 meters ≈ 1 3/8 mile

2640 meters ≈ 1 5/8 mile

3140 meters ≈ <2>



The Start is Important

About 54% of the races start with the horses behind the gate. Twelve trotters can be behind the gate - eight in the first row and four as trailers. The remaining 46% of the races have a ‘circling start’ with two or more groups comprising up to six horses each. Circling start allows a handicap system where those who earned more than a certain amount start 20 meters behind the wire. The Harper Hanover is a prestigious race over long distance, which sometimes has up to four circles behind the wire (please see video clip below). Those who earned up to a certain amount are joined in one circle and those with the biggest bank account in the circle most distant. All the circles are moving in the clockwise direction, whereas in Norway the second circle is heading in the opposite direction.


The average race finds the horses stacked up behind the leader after 500 meters. It is a crucial part of the race where positions are elementary and the speed just as high as on the homestretch. It is rarely full speed throughout the whole race, and it is quite unusual that horses are parked out three wide for a long time. The drivers are typically picking up speed with 600 meters left to go. The purse for the winner is in average $4,000, whereas races of more dignity have $15,000 and more in the purse for the winner.



Average Time Over 1000 Meters

It is not accurate to convert Swedish marks to North American, a truth which stems from the fact that we measure time as if the speed was an average over 1 000 metres. Instead of referring to quarters and get something similar to 29.4 for the first quarter, we would normally get the first mark after 500 meters. If the stopwatch shows 35,25 seconds, we get an opening time at 1.10,5 (35,25 seconds x 2 = 70,5 seconds = 1 minute and 10,5 seconds), which is then referring to the average time over 1000 meters.


With all these circumstances in mind, record marks set on 1000 meters tracks do not equal the time set on a mile track. Individual lifetime marks set in Sweden are not comparable with those set in North America, neither in dollars nor in time. North American trotting is faster and offers more generous purses than Swedish owners can hope for. Let us assume we are heading towards higher purses so the sport can survive economical crisis and remain the arena event it used to be when it was first introduced in our country.

Harper Hanovers 2008 - Millstone's Eager

July 28, 2010

The Hugo Åberg Memorial - A Sprinter Race Over the English Mile

The Hugo Åberg Memorial is a special race, highly donated and usually taking place on a ‘magical’ Tuesday night at Jägersro raceway in Malmö. Tonight (July 27), the track was in great condition, the audience was enjoying a beautiful summer night, and the horses showed off at their best. With ten horses behind the gate, the $138,000 Hugo Åberg Memorial is one of the most prestigious races for sprinters in Europe and this edition contained a mixture of the best European horses available.


The meeting started yesterday with the annual Kolgjini Sales, a mixed auction containing both yearlings and age horses. The two most expensive yearlings ($192,000) were both sired by Viking Kronos. Nadir Kronos (by Varenne - Crown Kronos) finished second after Raja Mirchi in The Ulf Toresen Memorial two weeks ago and was the most expensive horse worth $205,000.


Kolgjini stole the show again!

As so many times before, Kolgjini captured the audience at his home arena tonight, and The Hugo Åberg Memorial held no exception. Torvald Palema was the even money favourite but had post nine in the second tier behind the gate. From post six, Lavec Kronos raced to the front with the favourite Torvald Palema third on the outside. Beanie M.M. had to trott outside without cover and tired around the last bend. Torvald Palema delivered his speed on the homestretch, but by then, Kolgjini had already released the driving lines and Lavec Kronos finished the last 500 meters at 1.07,5/1609a (1:48.3) and won the race at 1.09,9/1609 (1:52.2). Torvald Palema finished second with Brioni locked in behind. Exactly a year ago, Lavec Kronos equaled the world record mark for 4-year-old colts at 1.10.2/1609a (1:53.0) on a 1000 meters track, and the Enjoy Lavec son has absolutely entered the elite as a 5-year-old.


Lutfi Kolgjini treated the 16,000 in audience with love and brought Lavec Kronos across the venue after the race. When they sang the Swedish national anthem, even Kolgjini seemed to be touched and indeed very proud. Prior to The Hugo Åberg Memorial, Raja Mirchi fulfilled his task winning the Premio Going Kronos, a race that was held in honor of Kolgjni’s former top horse Going Kronos. As in The Ulf Toresen Memorial, Raja Mirchi raced to the front, left the rest behind and won the race with four lengths. This time, Raja Mirchi acted like an aged horse, and besides the $41,000 he added to his bank account, he declared his position as a sprinter, showing no tendency to go off stride during the race and took an impressive victory at 1.12,1/1609a (1:56.0) The colt is still heavily balanced and with a few adjustments, the horse will gain more ground in the future.



Crème de la Crème

Lavec Kronos' pedigree is indeed exceptional, with both his sire and dam having extraordinary bloodlines. Lavec Kronos is as mentioned by dam Dame Lavec (by Quito de Talonay). Her dam Kit Lobell (Speedy Crown – Keystone Pioneer) was a very tough mare competing against the best on both sides of the Atlantic. She started her career in the US winning the International Trot, Matron Stakes, Filly Final, Colonial Lady & Breeders Crown. She finished second in the Elitlopp in 1991 and banked $1,205,000. Her dam Keystone Pioneer was also among the very best and won Kentucky Futurity, the Hambletonian Oaks, Canadian Trotting Classic and Copenhagen Cup. Sire Quito de Talonay (by Florestan) won the highest donated race for 3-year-old colts in France - the Criterium des 3 ans, and banked $452,000 with 12 victories out of 35 entries.


Lavec Kronos' sire Enjoy Lavec was trained in the US by Jimmy Takter. He won the Peter Haughton Memorial in 1998. The following year, he finished third in the Hambletonian, but won Zweig Memorial and World Trotting Derby by setting a new world record mark over three heats at 1.09,6 (1:52.0), 1.10,4 (1:53.1) and 1.10,1 (1:52.4) when he defeated Self Possessed. Enjoy Lavec's dam Margit Lobell (by Speedy Crown – Martina Hanover) was an elite mare in Sweden with offspring Fatima Lavec (by Sugercane Hanover) $260,000 and Kramer Cascade (Super Bowl) $260,000. Margit Lobell’s dam is no less than Martina Hanover, she was by other means a sister of Mack Lobell!


Enjoy Lavec’s sire Pine Chip would need his own chapter. Just briefly, he won basically everything besides the Hambletonian (finished second in the final) as a 3-year-old colt, with victories in the Breeders Crown, Kentucky Futurity, World Trotting Derby, The Beacon Course, American National Stakes, The Colonial Trot and Matron Stakes. As a 4-year-old, he won Breeders Crown, Nat Ray Trot, an elimination heat to the Elitlopp, and Delaware Open Trot. He set the historical world record mark at 1:51.0 in the time trial at The Red Mile Lexington and continued his career with an army of top offspring.



Kolgjini's Memorial

The Hugo Åberg Memorial 2010 evolved into The Kolgjini Memorial instead. The trainer from Jägersro has once again defeated the best in Europe and the show he held tonight will be remembered for a long time. This is exactly the kind of publicity Swedish trotting needs in order to (re)connect with the audience. With half the season left to go, there will most likely be more of Kolgjini in the future.

July 27, 2010

Stochampionatet – The Highest Donated Race for 4-Year-Old Fillies

A Three-Day Racing Event

Stochampionatet took place at Axevalla raceway last Sunday, on July 25. It is the biggest race for 4-year-old fillies over the distance 2640 meters with a purse of $135,265. Stochampionatet as a concept is the second biggest trotting event in Sweden after the Elitlopp, normally attracting around 30,000 people. The race itself finalize a three-day harness racing meeting with races Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Lots of people bring their caravans and tents, spending the weekend camping around the venue.


Axevalla raceway is located outside of Skara in the mid-south of Sweden, an area usually called ’the Swedish Kentucky’, with some of the main breeders based around the area. Among those, breeder Karl-Erik Bender’s (Torvald Palema) camp is located a few miles from Axevalla raceway, where also his main sires are stabled, the 1992 Hambletonian winner Alf Palema and his son Gidde Palema.



In Favor of the Breeders

The first edition of Stochampionatet was held in 1969 and the winner was Goldhook with Gösta Nordin in the bike. Until 1978, the distance was 3100 meters, but was then changed to 2640 meters, the same distance as the 4-year-old’s most prestigious race - the Derby, which takes place in Malmö the first Sunday in September. Stochampionatet was originally opened in favor of the breeders, by providing much needed revenue to increase purses and help keep owners, trainers and their horses in the area. The long distance asks for both strength and the right attitude to win. Queen L and Ina Scot won the race in 1990 and 1993 respectively, and both followed up not only winning the Derby, but also Prix d´Amerique later in life.



Viola Silas is the Queen of Her Crop

Viola Silas has been the outstanding queen among the fillies in her crop, winning 17 out of 18 entries. Her only loss was in the end of June this year when she finished third. The filly (by sire Lindy Lane - dam Iza Silas) has always proven her strength, the way she finished the contestants from an outside position in the $81,500 E3 final last season was absolutely remarkable. She was not eligible to start in Oaks (the highest donated race for 3-year-old fillies), which instead was won by Pebbly, but she won the $95,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old fillies and continued this season by winning the Drottning Silvias Pokal (’The Queens Trophy’) with $129,000 in the purse.



The Final

Six elimination heats took place on Friday, July 16. Viola Silas won her elimination heat easily, but the most impressive elimination heat winner was Vitesse d'Inverne. Those two were the main favorites to win the final, but when Vitesse d´Inverne went off stride shortly after the gate left them, Viola Silas took command whilst the rest were stacked up behind. Due to the heavy rain that fell, Viola Silas had problem with the sloppy track and were close to go off stride several times. With one lap left to go, Peter G Norman forced Dileva Käll to the front, a surprising move, which caused Fredrik Persson to take the position outside with his filly. Viola Silas was sliding across the track, but managed to stay strong right to the wire and win the prestigious race at 1.15,9/2640a (2:02.1). Dileva Käll finished second with Estancia right behind.


Even though Viola Silas has banked $590,000, the filly is still immature, and must learn to open rapidly behind the gate. Until now, the trainer and driver Fredrik Persson has relied on her strength, usually leaving the gate a few lengths behind and then via a three-wide move, park outside or march to the front. If Persson can develop her skills before the Derby eliminations that take place in the end of August, she has the capacity to challenge the best males in her crop.



Is Viola Silas Becoming a New Ina Scot?

Viola Silas has already outperformed the fillies and something about her reminds me of Ina Scot. Ina Scot was typically strong, had an amazing character winning all the classical races for 3-and 4-year-olds in her crop and was even beating the males in the Derby. She had an amazing career and banked more than $2,750,000, winning 54 of her 90 entries with the victory in Prix D´Amerique in 1995 as her main international triumph.


Viola Silas has a long way to go before she truly can be compared with Ina Scot, but two things make them similar. Both have proven strength and have the ability to do their job. Just like Ina Scot, Viola Silas has always delivered the best when it matters the most and it will be interesting to see if she can conquer the throne completely by challenging the males in the Derby.

July 21, 2010

It is All About Kolgjini

The Ulf Toresen Memorial

Raja Mirchi won the $95,000 Ulf Toresen Memorial at Jarlsberg Raceway in Norway last Sunday, July 18. A prestigious race that Scarlet Knight won before he conquered the Hambletonian in 2001.


Raja Mirchi raced to the front and reached 500 meters at 1.09.0/2100a (1:51.0). With his stablemate Nadir Kronos on the outside and the rest stacked up behind, trainer Kolgjini could set the pace and was never challenged at 1.14,2/2100a (1:59.2). Nadir Kronos finished second with Kolgjini’s first lad Christoffer Eriksson in the bike.



Going Overseas?

According to Kolgjini, Raja Mirchi is one of the most talented colts he has ever trained and brought him to the US last year trying to qualify for the Peter Haughton Memorial, but he went off stride in both his entries overseas. He came back from the US and conquered the only classical race for 2-year-olds - Uppfödningsloppet (‘The Breeders’ Race’,) - winning with eight lengths (!) and setting a record mark for 2-year-old colts at 1.15,4/2140a (2:01.2).


Lutfi Kolgjini has been aiming at this year’s Hambletonian with his colt, but his tendency to make breaks has forced a decision to stay home. The horse is still unbeaten in those races where he has been behaving well, but five out of 14 entries have ended with a break.


They can still bring him overseas for the Breeders Crown and Canadian Trotting Classic in September/October this year, but that would interfere with the Swedish 3-year-old’s biggest race of the year, the classical and prestigious Kriteriet with a $217,000 purse in the final. A race that Kolgjini has never won.



Kolgjini’s Trademark

Kolgjini has in all respect high expectations on his horse, which besides his own capacity is a younger brother of Lavec Kronos (by Enjoy Lavec), the winner of Sprintermästaren 2009, a contestant in the Elitlopp 2010 and winner of the $68,000 Årjängs Stora Sprinterlopp (‘Årjäng’s Sprinter Championship’) last Saturday (July 17).


Raja Mirchi was breed by Kolgjini who was the owner/trainer of both their sire and the dam. The sire Viking Kronos (by American Winner-Conch) was a fantastic colt, setting the world-record mark for 2- and 3-year-olds over middle distance, winning 12 of his 14 entries and banking more than $830,000. His result as a sire is brilliant with 28 millionaires among his offspring in Sweden. The dam Dame Lavec (by Quito De Talonay-Kit Lobell) started her career in the US trained by Jimmy Takter, and was bought by Kolgjini in 1996. Even though she was a good filly banking almost $100,000, she has definitely proved her value as a dam. Lavec Kronos has $420,000 on his account and Raja Mirchi $240,000.


Kolgjini is also the man behind Reven D´Amour’s sire Revenue, exported to the US in 2009. The stallion won many prestigious races, among those Uppfödningsloppet, triumphed in 47 of his 110 entries and banked more than $2,200,000.



The Ulf Toresen Memorial Female Division

Lutfi Kolgjini was the trainer of the first two horses in The Ulf Toresen Memorial, making this to a special day since Kolgjini picked up his second driving and training win of the day, previously winning the female division with Knowledge Face.


Knowledge Face marched to the front and left the contenders on the homestretch. She is also by Viking Kronos but her dam is Rakel Sund. The latter won two of eleven entries for Lutfi Kolgjini, but her career took off in the breeding shed, her first offspring Juggle Face has won 13 of his 35 entries, career earnings over $280,650. Last season, he finished second in the Breeders Crown Final for 3-year-old colts and yesterday (July 20), he won the $54,000 Eskilstuna Test Race for 4-year-olds at 1.14,1/2640a (1:59.1). Rakel Sund (by Ambro Goal-Jade Sund) is also a sister of Trition Sund (by Viking Kronos) $2030,000, and Amiral Sund (by Coktail Jet) $210,000.


Altogether, Kolgjini had an exceptional weekend showing great results on both sides of the Atlantic and it would have been interesting to see Raja Mirchi in this year’s Hambletonian.