Kriteriet, to Two Rookies

Driver Peter Ingves is by no means a rookie. Despite his age (51 years old), he is still Petri Puro’s first lad and one of the best catchdrivers in Sweden. When he drove Pato to a victory in the most prestigious race for 3-year-old colt and geldings, he did it in a confident manner.

New Talent

Pato was the least experienced horse behind the gate. With only four starts and four victories prior to the final, he had banked no more than $27,000. However, the Orlando Vici – She’s My Pie colt was unaware of the circumstances, and did his job in a splendid way. Peter Ingves took a safety start and positioned the colt in the middle of the field. After 1600 meters, Ingves sent Pato three-wide-out, trailing M.T.Golden Boy during the last 1000 meters. Stormysky came to the front in an early stage while On Track Piraten trotted first on the outside. Both colts were beaten when Pato attacked on the home stretch. M.T. Golden Boy finished second and Bon Frecia and Jorma Kontio speeded to the third place.

Petri Puro's New Star?

Pato won the race at 2:00.2/1 5/8 miles and added another $242,000 to his owner and trainer Petri Puro’s bank account. Petri Puro is the man behind Commander Crowe. Earlier this year, Puro sold his shares in the stallion, but his new adept might just as well fill Commander Crowe’s place in the future.

Next Rookie was a She

Sören Lennartsson is a less known trainer from Umåker in the north of Sweden, but he has by all means put his name in the books by now. His untried filly, Vincennes, (by Spotlite Lobell – Lina Trot) only made her fifth entry when she won Swedish Oaks, the filly division of Kriteriet. Vincennes fell off stride shortly after the gate had left them and Akseli Lahtinen placed her among the last horses on the inside. By small margins, he managed to move her three-wide-out in the last bend and the rest is history. The $149,000 in the winner's purse was more than four times her lifetime earnings. But by the look of her, she will be able to do a lot more and she won easily at 1:59.0/1 3/8th miles.

Åbys Stora Pris – Two heats – one winner

French Rapide Lebel (Ginger Somolli – Koranie des Noes) was magnificent and outstanding when he won Åbys Stora Pris in two consecutive heats at Åby (September 17). Although, there was some drama before the first heat started. First, Rapide Lebel was missing a buxton and then the back of his harness broke in half. The gelding is not very easy to deal with, but luckily the event caused no accidents. Finally, they called the horses behind the gate for the third time, and they took off. Lutfi Kolgjini’s Lavec Kronos with Erik Adielsson in the bike opened quickly behind the gate but let Flemming Jensen and Local Conch to the front. At that time, Rapide Lebel was still three wide out and came up outside of Local Conch after 500 meters. Brioni and Sebastian K were positioned further down, but it was only Sebastian K that could put up a fight in the end. For a short while it seemed like he could challenge Rapide Lebel, but the impression was false and Eric Raffin's gelding won the first heat unchallenged.

Easy Victory

In the second heat, the post positions where the opposite, which meant that Sebastian K had post one instead of eight. Kolgjini had the chance to defend the lead but let it go to Rapide Lebel. Raffin could then slow down the pace and with Local Conch trotting on the outside, the pace stayed low. On the homestretch, Kolgjini could choose to challenge Rapide Lebel on the outside or use one of the two open stretch lanes on the inside. He chose to attack on the outside, but with no use. Rapide Lebel sprinted from the rest of the field and made the Swedish elite look like extras.

Up in the Air

Raffin expressed his happiness when he crossed the finishing line by waving his whip in the air, while Kolgjini throw away his whip in anger. Sebastian K did a good race, but the best horse won both heats, which also made a third heat unnecessary. Rapide Lebel won the heats at 1:52.2 and 1:55.0 as well as the total purse of $150,000.