by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Perfect Spirit is still undefeated in Sweden after three starts. On Saturday afternoon (May 12) last year’s winner of the Hambletonian won the prestigious Kings Trophy at Aby with Ôrjan Kihlström in the bike.

Kanal 75 photo

Perfect Spirit won the prestigious Kings Trophy on Saturday.

Daniel Réden-trained Perfect Spirit (sired by Andover Hall) managed to take the lead from post position one and stayed on to win the 1-5/16th mile event in 1:54.2f (mile rate) followed by 83-1 shot Super War Horse, driven by Kevin Oscarsson and trained by Jerry Riordan, one length behind. Third was another North American trotter, Enterprise, driven by Per Linderoth and trained by Stefan Melander, who enjoyed a pocket trip, but wasn’t able to find enough power down the open stretch.

The win time was a new race and track record over the 1-5/16th mile distance. The purse for the winner was $120,000.

Perfect Spirit is owned by the SRF Stable, who run a big operation in Sweden as well as in the United States.

SRF Stable is also the owner of the winner of the Queens Trophy, also worth $120,000. Dibaba (sired by Ready Cash) also was guided to victory by Ôrjan Kihlström, but is trained by Roger Walmann. Dibaba won in 1:54.4f (mile rate) by a half-length over long leading Global Upper Style, driven by Peter Untersteiner.