Francesco Zet wins debut in Sweden

Francesco Zet (6m Father Patrick-Shaqline-Credit Winner), already an Elitloppet ’24 invitee, made his first harness racing start of the season this evening at Rattvik in Sweden timed in 1.10.1kr. Orjan Kihlstrom reined this Daniel Reden/Stall Zet owned and trained winner of 22 races in 23 career starts for over 18SEK million. The race today (May 3) was the Ake Sundbergs Race and the winner only earned 4,300€.

This was the Francesco’s first start since August 2023. He faced only six rivals and Hustle Rain (5m Raaja Mirchi) was a distant second.

Of interest at Solvalle (May 1) there were three Stall Courant Solvallaserien finals each for 6,880€ first money. The Series 350 saw 15.9/1 T. Wall’s Karma (7f Make It Happen-Elaine Carisma-Alf Palema) score in 1.12.0kr for reinsman Bjorn Goop for trainer Roger Pettersson, her seventh victory in 53 starts. Raced over 1640 meters autostart, the winner defeated 7.2/1 Dama du Prussia (5f Father Patrick-Prussia-Ken Warkentin) that Magnus A. Djuse driving the Alessandro Gocciadoro trainee.

The 150 Series saw 2.4/1 Gracie’s Bird (4f Bird Parker-Natural Grace-Super Arnie) score in 1.14.2kr over 2140 meters volte start. Bjorn Goop drove the Jorgen Westholm trainee to her third career win. She bested two Uncle Lasse offspring, Oberon Warframe at 9.2/1 and Elin Avant at 11.2/1 odds.

Gracie’s Bird’s half-brother Natural Mine (5g Nuncio-Natural Grace) won the Series 650 final timed in 1.12.9kr over 2140 meters autostart. Orjan Kihlstrom drove this one for trainer Jorgen Westholm that was off at 3.1/1 odds. He defeated 19.5/1 Beenthereseenthat (5g Broadway Hall) and 32.6/1 Extremely Sweet (5m Maharajah).

ATG, Solvalla, Rattvik  Veikkaus files/photos-harness trots

by Thomas H. Hicks, for Harnesslink