by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondant

On Saturday afternoon (June 23) Perfect Spirit collected his fourth victory in as many starts in a trial race in the Swedish Breeders Crown series at Rättvik The contest was raced over 1-5/16 mile is a new track record for 4-year old trotters of 1.54.4 (mile rate).

Perfect Spirit, driven by ôrjan Kihlström, was placed second-over most of the trip and had the favorite, Villiam, driven by Jorma Kontio just behind him.

Villiam raced for the first time this year and had not raced since he won the Swedish Kriterium over 1-5/8 mile last year in a new world record of 1.55.4 (mile rate).

However, when Kihlström made his move going into the stretch, Perfect Spirit took off and went on to win by 1-1/2 lengths over long-leading Hazard Boko; Villiam finished third.

Perfect Spirit, who is owned by the SRF Stable and trained by Daniel Redén, has earned $150,000 so far this year.