The Derby

Yesterday (September 5), the Swedish Trotting Derby for 4-year-old horses took place. This year, there was a female contestant among the twelve behind the gate. Tamla Celeber has been a dominant in the filly divisions and trainer Roger Walmann wanted to race her against the colts and geldings. Other top fillies like Ina Scot and Hilda Zonett have previously managed the task and when Tamla Celeber won her qualification heat ten days ago, Walmann had no need to regret his decision. Otherwise, the qualification heats were all about trainer Timo Nurmos whose horses managed to win four of six heats! The final was also a show á la Nurmos, but the winner was partly overshadowed by an accident on the homestretch.

Three Times Nurmos

Timo Nurmos’ Aga Kahn Boko took over the lead from Nurmos’ Amuro Boko with Ulf Ohlsson in the bike, after 600 meters. Erik Adielsson was in the lead and could slow down the pace a little. However, Torbjörn Jansson was awake and sent Nurmos’ third horse Beau Mec up outside of Aga Kahn Boko. With a mile left of the race, there were three Nurmos-trained horses among the first three while the forth Jackpot Brodde with Björn Goop was further down in the second lane. The only filly Tamla Celeber got a position on the inside, trailing Amuro Boko. Coming on the homestretch, Örjan Kihlström moved Tamla Celeber into an opening in the second lane, and by then she had a good speed to give. However, Ulf Ohlsson moved Amuro Boko to the same spot, and forced Tamla Celeber into a break – he was very close to cause a severe accident. Ohlsson was fined, but Amuro Boko’s owner could bank the $30,000, which most certainly Tamla Celeber would have gained if she had not been run over. Beau Mec did a fantastic race outside the leader and defended his position all they way to the finishing line. Far out, Johnny Takter and Johan Lejon trained Deuxieme Picsous sprinted well to the second place while Aga Kahn Boko was beaten by half a length.

Nurmos’ Weekend

Nurmos’ first driver Jorma Kontio was suspended from driving the finals, due to a new legislation, which makes no exceptions for drivers to compete in any race if they have been suspended for improper driving. However, Jorma Kontio was able to win the Finnish Trotting Derby the day before with Timo Nurmos-trained Seabiscuit while another Nurmos-trained horse finished second. Altogether, Timo Nurmos won both the Swedish and Finnish Trotting Derbys and finished second in the Finnish as well third and fourth in the Swedish. His horses banked more than $600,000 in two days. The winner is sired by sire Jag de Bellouet and dam Extreme Lady. Beau Mec won at 1.13,6/2640 meters (1:58.2/1 5/8 miles) and it was his 5th victory in 17 lifetime starts. The purse of $250,000 to the winner was more than four times his previous earnings.

The Filly Division

When Roger Walmann chose to compete Tamla Celeber against the colts and geldings, Åke Svanstedt could quite easily win the Filly Division of the Derby with Nettan Palema. Lutfi Kolgjini took over the lead with Knowledge Face in an early stage while Svanstedt and Nettan Palema for a long time were the second pair on the outside. Svanstedt sent Nettan Palema three wide out 600 meters left to go and came up outside of Svanstedt’s second horse Popcorn Lavec who trotted first on the outside during the whole race. Nettan Palema could quite easily unarm Knowledge Face and Popcorn Lavec but threats came from behind. The finishing line saved Nettan Palema from Cruise Speed with Björn Goop in the bike. Domino Sund and Popcorn Lavec finished third and fourth, but the purse of $110,000 belonged to Nettan Palema and Åke Svanstedt.