Oslo Bjerke GP undercard

Top flight harness racing action occurred throughout Oslo Grand Prix day at Bjerke Travbane.

Mares ages three to ten battled in a 1609 meters autostart event worth 175,000NoKr to the winner and 6.5/1 Playing Tua (8f Gigant Neo-Sandy Nalan-Lindy’s Crown) came out on top for trainer/driver Thomas Uhrberg. The impressive, gorgeous, long-striding mare now has 17 career wins in 65 starts for earnings in excess of 2,150,000NoKr.

Timed in 1.11.1kr she defeated 12.5/1 Diadora BR (5f Ken Warkentin-Bauxite-SJ’s Caviar) with Thor Borg up for trainer Frode Hamre. Third was 2.4/1 Soho (7f Dream Vacation-Hillery Toll-General November) with Jorma Kontio up for trainer Bo Westergaard. The winner recorded her third win in the last four outings. Late stretch leading Radysin America made a miscue under heavy urging from Bjorn Goop and was disqualified. Heaven’s Door finished unplaced.

Four year-olds contested an open event worth 200,000NoKr to the winner and Goop teamed front-stepping 1.9/1 Cruzdo dela Noche (4m Muscle Massive-Alidade-Credit Winner) to a 1.10.4kr victory for trainer Stefan Melander. After a recall the winner was all business and defeated Divisionist (4m Andover Hall-Only Lonely-Yankee Paco) with Jorma Konto up for trainer Melander. Third was another Melander trainee French Laundry (4m Muscles Yankee-Creamy Mimi-Conway Hall) with Orjan Kihlstrom aboard. Broadway Appolo and Cahal des Rioults were fourth and fifth. The top group are US registered.

Cruzado dela Noche

The Euroamatch for four and five year-olds drew a fine field that raced over 2100 meters autostart for 300,000NoKr first prize. The 1.11.6kr timed winner was the 1.6/1 favorite, and Bjorn Goop piloted, Timone EK (4m Mr. Vic-Gemona-Lemon Dra), an Italian campaigner trained in FR by Fabrice Souloy. 42/1 Exodus Hanover (5m Andover Hall-Exotic Destination-Dream Vacation) was second driven by Orjan Kihlstrom for trainer Roger Walmann, and 2.48/1 Buzz Mearas (5g Dream Vacation-Dance Of Joy-Malabar Man) was third with Roberto Andreghetti holding the lines. Buzz Mearas has been racing well going into this contest.

As previously reported Goop won the Energima Cup Final and his elimination with the Riordan trained Rod Stewart, that started reinsman Goop’s big day.

Thomas H. Hicks

PMU, ATG, Rikstoto, Fintoto files