Francesco Zet dominates as expected on huge Solvalla card

A superb harness racing program highlighted the Solvalla racecourse experience that this evening honored the legendary Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg.

The featured event, a Gr. I International STL Gold contest, in her name was raced for 127,050€ first prize over 2140 meters autostart. Here the 1.2/1 Francesco Zet (5m Father Patrick-Shaqline-Credit Winner) made an early rush to the death seat and then advanced to an easy victory timed in 1.10.5kr. Orjan Kihlstrom teamed the Daniel Reden trainee for Stall Zet as Francesco won for the 20th time in 22 career starts. Borups Victory (5m Googoo Gaagaa) was second for trainer/driver Daniel Wajersten at 9.7/1 odds and 43/1 High On Pepper (5g Ready Cash) was third for Jorma Kontio, who this week celebrated his 70th birthday.

The Queen L for aged mares was also onstage racing 2640 meters for 16,940€ first money. The 1.5/1 odds favorite Felicia Zet (5f Ready Cash-Pampered Princess-Andover Hall) was victorious in 1.13.3kr for the Kihlstrom/Reden team. Ivanka Amok (5f Zola Boko) was second for Magnus A. Djuse and trainer Timo Nurmos. Orlando (7f Classic Photo) captured third for Carl Johan Jepson at 37.6/1 odds.

The Gr. I International Prix Maharajah was the European Championship for Mares (purse to winner 84.700€. 2140 meters autostart) saw the 3/1 odds Great Skills (5f Ready Cash-Prowess Kronos-Andover Hall) score easily for trainer/driver Daniel Wajersten and Bro Byggnads AB timed in 1.10.9kr. Sje now shows a slate of 11-3-1 in 20 career starts. Glamorous Rain (5f Muscle Hill-Savvy Yankee-Balanced Image) was second at 5.8/1 for the Kihlstrom/Reden team and 22/1 Imhatra AM (5f Muscle Hill-Tamla Celeber-Cantab Hall) held third with Matts E. Djuse driving for Jorgen Westholm the trainer. Courant AB owns this one. Following the top three were Isla Jet, Iceland Falls and Backflash Bar.

The card also showed victories of Whoopsy Laday (3f Tobin Kronos-Harris Street Hall-Conway Hall) in the Wallenius Cup (12,705€ first prize, 1640 meters autostart). Off at 1.5/1 this filly scored in 1.13.5kr for Magnus A. Djuse, trainer Timo Nurmos and owner Stefan Lind. She has a 3-2-0 slate in only five career appearances. In the Wallenius Water Innovation (9.317€ to the winner, 2140 meters autostart) 32.4/1 odds Amazing Lady NO (5f Maharajah-Newsworthy-Spotlite Lobell) scored in 1.12.8kr with Jorma Kontio at the lines. This was her seventh career victory in 25 starts.