The German breed and owned Brioni (sire Timberland, dam Ambro Edith by Florida Pro) outperformed the Swedish trotters at Åby racecourse last Saturday (April 15). Olympiatravet is the first big race of the season in Sweden and has been contested since 1979. It is run in collaboration with the Swedish Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Each year, ATG – the Swedish Horse Racing Totalisator Board, offers sponsorship money to the Olympic sport, this year the cheque was on SEK 8 million ($1,3 million). The race is over 2140 meters (1 3/8th miles) and offers $245,000 to the winner.
Four trials lead up to the final with ten contestants, eight had qualified and two had been given wild cards. Commander Crowe, Torvald Palema and Brioni were among the favorites and Brioni showed both class and strength. Åke Svanstedt sent Torvald Palema to the front but Flemming Jensen with Local Conch took over after 650 meters. Jensen kept the pace high, and reached the first 1000 meters at 1.10.7 (1.57.4), but Local Conch fell through at the homestretch. Instead, Brioni attacked with 500 meters left to go and controlled the last bit of the race. He won easily at 1,11.4 (1.58.7). Marshland finished second and Yarro Boko was third.
Brioni has been in Lövgren’s care since 2006 and the eight-year-old stallion has gradually grown into the elite. So far, he has banked more than $1,3 million with 27 wins in 46 entries. Last year, he won Kymi Grand Prix in Finland and finished third in the Elitlopp behind Iceland and Torvald Palema. Lövgren was the trainer behind Torvald Palema before he was transferred to Åke Svanstedt. He has now produced a new talent, which already is a good candidate to the Elitlopp in the end of May.
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