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.
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.
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.
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.
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