by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Stefan ”Tarzan” Melander, the world famous harness racing photographer, winner of the 2001 Hambletonian and one of the leading trainer/drivers in his native country, Sweden, was in focus on Wednesday night (August 15) at Solvalla. Melander won three races — two of them with offspring sired by his Hambletonian winner, Scarlet Knight.

Kanal 75 photo

Stefan Melander and Friction won the Jubilee Trophy.

In the main event, the Jubilee Trophy for 5-year-old trotters raced over the 1-5/16th mile distance, Melander guided Friction to a three length victory, followed by the 2010 winner of the Kentucky Futurity, Wishing Stone, with Erik Adielsson in the bike.

Friction has developed into a top trotter this year. In February he raced in lower classes and now he has won a big international Group 1 race! This was his eighth victory this year from 16 races and with the purse of $150,000, Friction now has lifetime earnings of $440,000. He was timed in 1:56.1f (mile rate). Back in April, Friction won over the mile in 1:54.2f.

Earlier in the evening, Melander won with another offspring to Scarlet Knight named Disco A E, a 4-year-old who was timed in 1:55.3 (mile rate) in a 1-5/16th mile event.

He also scored with the 3-year-old colt Nato Dream, sired by Andover Hall, who won a mile event in 1:55.2f.

On the same card the European Championship for mares was raced. The championship was raced over the 1-5/16th mile distance and with a purse for the winner of $110,000.

The Italian mare Marielles, with Erik Adielsson in the bike, was favored to win and was in command most of the trip with the French mare Save The Quick, with Dominik Locqueneux, on the outside.

Down the stretch the Swedish mare Tamla Celeber, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, came from behind to win by a half-length in a new Swedish record and new race record of 1:55.4f.

Tamla Celeber was sired by Cantab Hall and is trained by Norwegian-born Roger Walmann. This was her 21st win from 33 races.