Well regarded US exports Delicious (6f Cantab Hall-Ipsara LB-Lemon Dra) and Nuncio (4m Andover Hall-Nicole Isabelle-Lindy Lane) scored major victories today at Solvalla.
The V75-3 Konung Carl XVI Gustafs for 250,000SEK to the winner went easily to Delicious and Orjan Kihlstrom. The diminutive mare won her fourth straight, this one nearly gate to wire (parked almost the first quarter from post eight), as she scored with ease and with shoes all around, in the 2140 meter autostart event.
Off at 1.2/1 favorite Delicious fought off a threatening Volstead that faded late to be off the board enabling Obi Wan (9g Ganymede-Hejsa Reerstrup-Speedy Herve) to be second for Flemming Jensen with third to Arazi Boko (8f Varenne-Laura Kemp-Express Ride) for Christoffer Eriksson.
Oliver Kronos and Mind Your Face finished fourth and fifth. The fractions were well-rated (1.10.3kr at first 500; 1.13.2kr at 1000; 1.14kr after 1500 meters; 1.13.2kr finish). Winner Delicious now has a career slate of 19-9-7 in 44 starts for earning of 5,666,572SEK (US$654,256).
Two races later Nuncio took the John Deere-Solvalla Grand Prix with 400,000SEK to the winner of this 2140 meter autostart contest. Stefan Melander confidently piloted his owned and trained champion to a three-quarter length victory after being three-wide past the opening quarter.
Daley Lovin (4m Conway Hall-Dreamsrmadeofthis-Dream Vacation) raced superbly (this one was bred in the US by Ann-Marie Daley and developed by Dan Daley) to be second for Erik Adielsson and trainer Daniel Reden, then it was five lengths back to the rest of the field. Fractions were well-rated (1.08.3kr at the first 500 meters; 1.11.4kr at 1000; 1.12.9kr after 1500 meters; 1.12.2kr finish).
Nuncio now sports a slate of 26-12-2 in 40 starts for earnings of 18,132,726SEK (US$2,093,583). Explosive de Vie (4g Explosive Matter-Ava-Pine Chip) was third for trainer/driver Jim Oscarsson with pocked placed Exodus Hanover (4m Andover Hall-Exotic Destination-Dream Vacation) fourth to the line.
This day at Avenches was held the Grand Prix du Trotteur Francais-Suisse (purse €20,815, 2425 meters, 9 starters) with victory to 1.3/1 favorite Padolin (12g Giant Cat-Adolina) timed in 1.16.8kr for reinsman Marc-Andre Bovay and owner Roland Muller.
The classy veteran defeated 4.8/1 Swing d’Eronville (9g Jag de Bellouet-Lucie d’Eronville) driven by Jacques Juriens for owner/trainer Bernard Perrin. 7/2 Podium du Rib (12g Giant Cat-Gallia de Vandel) rallied for third for Mme. Rene Aebischer, also trainer, and owner Ecurie Rhythm & Blues as six horses were within a long length for second.
Tomorrow the action moves to Milan Italy for a superb program that includes the Gr. I Gran Premio d’Europa for a purse of €209,000 and the Gran Criterium for €187,000.
by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink