Francesco Zet wins, Just Believe 2nd in Stora Pris

Francesco Zet (5m Father Patrick-Shaqline-Credit Winner) made the top early and continued on to a length harness racing victory in the Gr. I Norrbottens Stora Pris in Boden, Sweden (1,000,000SEK to winner, 85,600€ in euros, 2140 meters autostart, nine starters after scratch of Rackham).

Orjan Kihlstrom teamed the Daniel Reden trained and Stall Zet owned trotteur that now has a 19-1-0 slate in 21 career starts for 16,875,000SEK earned. He is unbeaten in 11 starts In the 2022-23 seasons. He was off the 1.38/1 odds favorite and was timed in 1.11.0kr.

The 9.1/1 second choice Just Believe (8g Orlando Vici-Heaven’s Above-Like A Prayer) was a game death seat second for driver Greg Ross Sugars. Mellby Jinx (5g Ready Cash-Heavens Door-Muascle Hill) held third on the pegs with trainer Daniel Wajersten aboard at 48/1. Castor The Star and Power completed the top five.

“It was a very good performance today,” said Just Believe’s trainer-driver Greg Sugars. “I am super proud of my horse. I have really enjoyed the whole experience here in Sweden. It didn’t start well with the break in the Elitlopp, but after that he has developed nicely. He seems to like being here. Now we need to go home. He has several good races at home and that we will get him ready for. It is possible that we will come back next year as well if everything goes as it should.”

“I wanted to try to make something out of the race and not just back down last,” said Daniel Wäjersten, trainer-driver of third place finisher Mellby Jinx. “He opened well with a semi-closed bridle, which was the first time under my direction. He had a good race and was third comfortably. He was beaten by two star horses.”

On the Boden undercard there were several top races. The Norrlands Elitserie (70,000SEK to the winner, eight starters, three-year-olds going 1640 meters autostart) saw Empire As (3m Ready Cash-Simpatica OK-Cantab Hall) score 1.12.6kr for trainer/driver Alessandro Gocciadoro. Tactical Lady US (3f Tactical Landing-Parlia Hanover-Credit Winner) was a 7.9/1 odds second for driver Mika Forss.

Later the four-year-olds contested the Norrlands Grand Prix (70,000SEK first money, 2150 meters autostart, five starters) with that victory earned by Denver GIO (4n Southwind Frank-Swan Wise As-Varenne) timed in 1.13.3kr and off the 1.49/1 odds favorite. Alessandro Gocciadoro is his trainer/driver and Gio now has a 10-1-1 slate in 24 starts, Last Dying Breath (4m Nuncio-Made Pure Love-Love You) was second for Hanna Olofsson and Hickoexplosive (4m Explosive Matter-Champagne-Supergill) was third for Robert Bergh.

Bodem Hippodrome, ATG, Veikkaus files/photos – harness trots.

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink