by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Conway Hall enjoyed a great day in Sweden on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 6) as he sired the winner of the Swedish Trotting Derby, worth $240,000, and the winner of the Breeders Course final, worth $55,000.

In fact, it was a great weekend for another Hall, as the winner of the Italian Campeonato Europeo, worth $82,000 to the winner, was won by a mare sired by Angus Hall, a full brother to Conway Hall.

The Swedish Trotting Derby for 4-year-old trotters is raced over the 1-5/8 mile distance at Jägersro. A field of 12 trotters lined up behind the gate with Conlight As, driven by Erik Adielsson, as the favorite at 3-1.

Conlight As won in a close race in 1:58.2 and became the first winner for Conway Hall in this prestigious Swedish trotting race.

Svante Baath, who also trained last year’s winner of the Derby, trains Conlight As, who actually was born and raised in Kentucky at the ACL Farm.

In the Breeders Course final for 2-year-olds, it was Italian bred United Love, driven by Erwin Bot, who won by a neck over the Danish trotter Bad Moon Rising (sired by Muscles Yankee).

United Love is by Conway Hall and out of a Pine Chip mare, Dolly Kronos. The grand dam is Hambletonian Oaks-winner Working Gal.

United Love was sold at the ITS Sale in Italy last year to a Dutch owner for $13,500.

In Italy the 7-year-old mare Orsia (sired by Angus Hall) won the Campionato Europeo in a race-off over another mare, Olona OK (sired by Varenne). This was the 13th win for Orsia in a classic Italian graded race.

Orsia went off stride in the first heat, which was won by Olona OK, driven by Gaetano di Nardo, in 1:54.4h, but in the second heat Orsia, driven by Antonio di Nardo, came back and won in 1:53.2h.

The race-off was an easy task for Orsia in 1:58.1h.