Watch final heat at https://youtu.be/nsVzLdYrA1o
Nuncio (5m Andover Hall-Nicole Isabelle-Lindy Lane) prevailed gamely after a parked out journey for Orjan Kihlstrom and owner/trainer Stefan Melander to capture the Gr. I International 2016 Benders Elitloppet (3SEK million to the final winner (€323,100), 1609 meters autostart) narrowly holding off Resolve (5m Muscle Hill-Anikawiesahalee-Credit Winner) by half-length, that one driven and trained by Ake Svanstedt for owner Hans Enggren.
Pacesetter Un Mec d’Heripre (8m Orlando Vici-I Love You Darling-Buvetier d’Aunou) was a gutsy third, a length back, for Jos Verbeeck and trainer Fabrice Souloy. Elim winner Timoko rallied from between horses to be fourth for Bjorn Goop but he never threatened the top three. Propulson ended fifth and Oasis Bi sixth. Royal Fighter left quickly from post six, reached the pocket, and could not close, ending seventh with Billie de Montfort at the end.
Nuncio was the wagering favorite, off at 0.5/1 on the ATG system and 2.1/1 on Fintoto. Resolve was 1.96/1 on ATG and 4.56/1 on Fintoto.
Fractions again were quick early and late (1.07.6kr at 500 meters, 1.09.6kr at the 1000) with the finish timed in 1.09.2kr (mile rate 1:51.34).
All starters were timed in 1.09.9kr or better.
Nuncio completes the fabulous day with a career slate of 31-13-2 in 46 starts, good for 21,597,726SEK earned.
Pinkman wins for Takter/Gingras
Pinkman (4g Explosive Matter-Margie Seelster-Angus Hall) with Yannick Gingras up for trainer Jimmy Takter reached the front before the first quarter, rated the pace albeit parking out Twister Bi (4m Varenne-Lorraine Bi-Lemon Dra), and put that one away at top stretch to win the Gr. II Tommy Hannes for four year-olds (500,000SELK to the winner, 1609 meters autostart, 10 starters).
Uncle Lasse (4m Donato Hanover-Solveig-Yankee Glide) rallied for Orjan Kihlstrom and trainer/owner Stefan Melander to fall short by a head. The race was timed in 1.09.9kr (1:52.47 mile rate). Divisionist (4m Andover Hall-Only Lonely-Yankee Paco) rallied to be third for Jorma Kontio and trainer Melander. Fractions were quick early and late with Pinkman getting some soft time mid-race (1.07.8kr at 500 meters, 1.10kr at the 1000 mark).
Pinkman was off as even-money favorite with Uncle Lasse at 2.3/1 and Divisionist at 14/1. Pinkman now has a career slate of 18-5-2 in 28 starts for earnings of 21,382,178SEK.
A race earlier the Gudrans Lopp (100,000SEK to winner, 2140 meters autostart) went to 1.13.4kr timed New Muscle As (4g Muscle Mass-New Circle As-Malabar Man) for Bjorn Goop and trainer Ulf Stenstromer. The roan colt Antonio Tabac (4m Crazed-Grace Tabac-Tap In) pulled pegs pocket late to be second beaten half-length with Erik Adielsson up for trainer Stig H. Johansson.
Timoko takes first elimination division
Timoko (9m Imoko-Kiss Me Coulonces-And Arifant) took the first elim of the 2016 Benders Elitloppet gate to wire for Bjorn Goop and trainer Richard Westerink, his third straight victory and 30th lifetime in 85 starts for earnings of 37,756,090SEK.
Away from post four Timoko quickly took the front and held off parked out Volstead until top of stretch when Resolve (5m Muscle Hill-Anikawiesahalee-Credit Winner) rallied three wide from fifth for Ake Svanstedt with Propulsion (5m Muscle Hill-Danae-Andover Hall) following that one. Both closed stoutly with Resolve a half-length from the leader at the wire and Propulsion another half-length behind. Oasis Bi enjoyed a pocket position and did not threaten,
Fractions were sharp (1.07.8kr at the first 500 meters, 1.09.2kr at the 1000) and finished at 1.09.1kr for the 1609 meter one-mile test with 250,000SEK to the winner, Oasis Bi and Volstead rounded out the top five and Your Highness was scratched. The winner was off at 1.9/1 on Fintoto and 4/5 on the PMU network.
Early Solvalla action on this 2016 Benders Elitloppet day saw Wild Honey (4f Cantab Hall-U Wanna Lindy-SJ’s Photo) take the Rune Stolts for mares (250,000SEK to the winner, 1609 meters autostart) timed in 1.10.9kr for Orjan Kihlstrom and trainer Daniel Reden. The mare was parked without cover and eased to the line ahead of Tunika (4f Zola Boko-Verona de Ling-Super Arnie) and driver Bjorn Goop.
A race later the 2016 undefeated (five of five now) Makethemark (3m Maharajah-Global Naughty-Conway Hall) took the Hakan Wallner Memorial (300,000SEK to the winner) for driver Ulf Ohlsson clocked in 1.11.8kr. Parked without cover the dimunitive colt closed steadily to capture the win from Mindyourvalue WF (3m Hovding Lavec-Mind Your Manners-Dahir de Prelong) with Ake Svanstedt driving for trainer Robert Bergh. The winner now has 11 wins in 13 starts lifetime.
Un Mec d'Heripre wins second elimination division
Respected FR speedster Un Mec d’Heripre (8m Orlando Vici-I Love You Darling-Buvetier d’Aunou) sat outside leading Royal Fighter (8m Varenne-Froken Julie-Supergill) with Jennifer Tillman up for Per Eriksson, avoided traffic when Call Me Keeper went offstride on the backstretch, and moved alongside and then eased past Royal Fighter to the lead at top stretch.
Favorite Nuncio (5m Andover Hall-Nicole Isabelle-Lindy Lane), with Orjan Kihlstrom up for Stefan Melander, surged into contention from fifth but could not overtake the Jos Verbeeck reined, Fabrice Souloy trained Un Mec d’Heripre that held by a length timed in 1.09.3 kr (fractions 1.08.8kr at the 500 meter mark and 1.09.6kr atg the 1000). Billie de Montfort (5f Jasmin de Flore-Quismy de Montfort-And Arifant) was fourth for David Thomain and trainer Sebastien Guarato.
The winner was off at 8/1 on the PMU network while Nuncio was the favorite at 0.5/1 on PMU and 9/10 on Fintoto. Driver Verbeeck has enjoyed a successful weekend so far after winner yesterday with Bird Parker.
Post positions for the final with 3SEK million to the winner follow:
1. Un Mec d’Heripre
2. Timoko
3. Resolve
4. Nuncio
5. Propulsion
6. Royal Fighter
7. Billie de Montfort
8. Oasis Bi
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink
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