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.