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.

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.

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.

Maple Leaf Trot

Reven d’ Amour qualified for the final of Maple Leaf Trot last Saturday, after a tough elimination heat where he was parked first over after running the first two quarters three-wide. He finished third after the winner San Pail and Lanson.


Among the Top Ten
Reven d’Amour has always been among the top ten colts of his crop, and even if he hasn’t won any of the classical races, he’s banked $345,000. Henrik Larsson is the trainer behind the Revenue son with his older brother Fredrik B Larsson in the bike.

As a 3-year-old, the colt won seven out of eleven entries, and his first major triumph was the European Championship for 3-years-olds, (Group 1 Int.), earning SEK 500,000 ($68,000). He won this race after a great finish in the backstretch, adding speed to his already proven strength.

Last season, he won $68,000 Club Grand Prix, a sprinter race for 4-year-olds contested on the same day as the Elitlopp. The horse was parked on the outside and was strong right to the wire.

The 'European Invader'
This year, Reven d’Amour has struggled in vain, competing against aged horses and has not been close to any major victory yet. Nevertheless, trainer Henrik Larsson has been satisfied with his horse, and wouldn’t have brought him over if he had not been in the best possible condition. He won his last entry in the end of June before he was shipped overseas, and made an impressive race up front, coming home at 1.12,5/2140a (1:56.3).

The horse delivered a good performance in the elimination heat, but the winner San Pail was impressive and Reven d’Amour should normally not beat horses like Lucky Jim and Enough Talk on their native ground. This time, Reven d’Amour starts from post seven, and if Fredrik B Larsson can find a decent position with his horse, the 'European Invader' may have a good finish to offer.

Stosprintern – 'The Sprinter Championship, Female Division'

Friday, July 9 was a big day for the four-year-old fillies when the final of Stosprintern (‘Sprintermästaren Female Division’), with €35,000 ($50,000) to the winner took place. A very modest amount compared to the €100,000 ($142,000) handed over to the winner of Sprintermästaren the day before. The unfair allocation of prize money between fillies and colts makes little sense considering the costs involved to care for them is the same.

Tight Racing Calendar

Eleven days before the final, the eliminations took place, a fairly new move in order to avoid interference with the four-year-old fillies’ major event, Stochampionatet, which is due in the end of July. Up until 2005, Stosprintern had the same concept as Sprintermästaren, with eliminations and final on the same day. Due to the tight schedule with only ten days to prepare for the elimination heats to Stochampionatet, only a few fillies could attend both races and trainers had to choose between the two. The new concept has attracted most of the top fillies to Stosprintern – Zilan Boko, Dont Wear PJS and Sybaris Hanover won the elimination heats.

The Final

The draw for the final took place after the eliminations, with the following positions:

1. Zilan Boko – Jorma Kontio

2. Dont Wear PJS – örjan Kihlström
3. Sybaris Hanover – Stefan Söderkvist
4. La Bellouet – Håkan K Persson
5. Spirit Of The Day – Tom Horpestad
6. Chanel Håleryd – Kaj Widell
7. Calypso Sund – Åke Svanstedt
8. Lights On Broadway – Johnny Takter
9. Lucilu Hanover – Erik Adielsson
10. Pebbly – Björn Goop

Dont Wear PJS was heavily favored, but was never close after an outside position behind horses. The winner was instead Spirit of the Day who had plenty of speed left after an inside trip and found a clearance on the homestretch, winning at 1.12,0/1609a (1:55.4). The driver Tom Horpestad was exclaiming his excitement by swirling his whip in the air when crossing the finishing line.

Lexington Selected Yearling Sale

Spirit Of The Day is a daughter of the 2003 Hambletonian winner Amigo Hall and her dam is Affinity (by Victory Dream). She was a $20,000 yearling purchase at Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and has since 2007 been trained by her owner Tom Horpestad in Sweden. The victory bumped her career earnings to over the $100,000 mark.

Sprintermästaren – ‘The European Sprinter Championship’

Sprintermästaren is usually called the ‘The European Hambo’, which - except for the identical distance - might be a little misleading. It is an annual event for European and US-bred four-year-old trotters, raced on a 1000-meter track (5/8 mile) over one mile. Considering most harness races in Sweden are 2140 meters (‘middle distance’) or 1640 meters (short distance’) run on 1000 meters tracks, 1609 meters is considered a ‘sprinter distance’ and quite rare. Except from the Elitlopp, which is open for aged horses, Sprintermästaren is the only annual race over sprinter distance. Similar to the Elitlopp, eliminations and final are contested on the same day with the top three plus the best seeded four from the elimination heats qualifying for the final.

The first edition was held in 1971 and was won by Cirro and racing legend Sören Nordin. Since then, several great horses have won the race, e.g. The Onion, Mr Lavec and Scarlet Knight. When The Onion won the race in 1983 at 1.12,0 (1:55.4), he marked a world-record for trotters on a 1000 meters track. Mr Lavec was in Jimmy Takter’s care most of his career and won Sprintermästaren in 1995. Scarlet Knight won the Hambletonian in 2001 and followed up by winning Sprintermästaren in 2002.

A Special Day

The races were contested in Halmstad Thursday on July 8, and despite some showers before post time, it was a beautiful summer night. Weather conditions were perfect for trotting, hitting a maximum temperature around 25°C (77°F). The track was in great condition and the arena was crowded, not beating the attendance record but well comprising some 12,000 people. Families and friends had gathered in groups around the track. Thousands of people are coming back year after year for the annual meeting, making this to a special event where young and old, rich and poor meet to share their passion for trotting. Most of them are enthusiasts and gamblers, but several are there for the ambiance solely.

Eliminations

The classical races in Sweden are mainly for three- and four-year-old horses, with only one big race for the two-year-olds. The main season for four-year-olds starts in May with Kungapokalen (‘The Royal Trophy’), and this year’s winner Sebastian K was the natural favorite to win Sprintermästaren too. In the end, Sprintermästaren 2010 was about three horses only, with the first two elimination heats won from the lead with the winners Sebastian K and You Bet Hornline hitting the same mark at 1.11,5/1609a (1:55.0). Select Yankee won the third elimination via an explosive speed on the backstretch, hitting the best mark of the day at 1.10,9/1609a (1:54.1).

After the three eliminations, tickets were drawn and the starting positions for the final were selected. The trials were worth €10,000($13,500) each and the final €100,000 ($142,000) to the winner.

The Final:

Horse – Driver

1 Sebastian K – Lutfi Kolgjini

2 Select Yankee – Åke Svanstedt

3 You Bet Hornline – Robert Bergh

4 Vejby Boom – Jan Hansen

5 Global Limousine – Björn Goop

6 Hot Southwind – Joakim Lövgren

7 Zyrano Boko – Örjan Kihlström

8 Oracle – Johnny Takter

9 Alvena Pampas – Per Lennartsson

10 Turbo Viking - Thomas Uhrberg

The final started before the sun set around 9.40 pm. The wind was still warm and the air fresh, and with the horses behind the gate, a specific atmosphere spreads in the audience and for a moment it’s absolutely quiet. The silence was broken the moment they were off, and Sebastian K raced to the front, whilst Select Yankee was parked first over. You Bet Hornline was third on the outside and on the backstretch, Robert Bergh took a chance and found inside passage with his horse; a move that turned out to be brilliant. In the last turn, it looked like Sebastian K would give Lutfi Kolgjini his second consecutive triumph in the race, but Robert Bergh managed to find a gap between Sebastian K and Select Yankee on the outside, and sprinted home the race at 1.11,1/1609a (1:54.2). Select Yankee did a good race from the outer position and finished second before Turbo Viking who fulfilled well after another race on the inside.

Those Behind You Bet Hornline

Robert Bergh has since long proved his skills as a master of preparation for the annual races. The trial was the first time You Bet Hornline competed without shoes and with a blind bridle. Even though the horse has won ten out of his 18 entries, he has never been close to any victory of this magnitude before. This is in fact the only classical race You Bet Hornline was nominated for and the trainer has since long aimed at Sprintermästaren for the horse. You Bet Hornline has an interesting heritage; his sire San Pellegrino is the result of a Prakas mare bred to Valley Victory. You Bet Hornline was bred by one of the major breeders in Sweden, Stuteri Hornline, and is the last offspring by her dam Evergreen Ri.

About Swedish Trotting

Harness Racing is a big sport in Sweden, with races almost every day all year round it has turned into a multi-billion dollar industry operated by STC (‘Swedish Trotting Association’) – a central administrative organization owned by the (all non-profit) Swedish racetracks. Its mission is to regulate, organize and develop Swedish trotting, act as its representative towards the government and foreign racing organizations and handle e.g. licensing, registration, racing statistics as well as regulatory and legal issues. STC also develops the annual racing schedule for all Swedish tracks.

ATG (‘Trotting & Gallop Inc.’) was established in 1974 to provide the financial basis for the future prosperity of trotting, handle the marketing of the sport and make it accessible to people around the country. ATG is regulated by the government, but organized as a private corporation. It stays in control of the gambling by being the only legal organizer of horse betting. A large portion of the turnover is withheld as tax while a certain share is channeled into the sport to keep purses at a decent level.