The Sprintermästaren in Halmstad, Sweden, is called the Swedish Hambletonian Stake because it is held with eliminations and the final on the same day – albeit for 4-year-old trotters.
The 2025 edition was a great triumph for Italy, as both the winner, Far Wise As, and the runner-up, Face Time Jepson, were born and bred in Italy. Both also have Face Time Bourbon as their sire.
Jerry Riordan trains Far Wise As and had Carl Johan Jepson in the bike, and even though the pair sat outside the leading J Kagan Brick with Robert Bergh, Far Wise As was the strongest in the home stretch and won in 1:54.0f – half a length ahead of Free Time Jepson with trainer/driver Alessandro Gocciadoro. Third was Preacherman (sired by Father Patrick) with trainer/driver Markus N. Svedberg.
Far Wise As, owned by Bruni Racing Team, was sold as a yearling for 210,000 Euros.
In Temple Blue Chip (sired by Cantab Hall), he has the same dam as Vivid Wise AS (sired by Yankee Glide) – winner of, among others, the International Trot at Yonkers.
There was also Italian blood in the winner of the Stosprintern for 4-year-old mares.
Here, Kilimanjaro Face won with Adrian Kolgjini in 1:55.4f – she has Googoo Gaagaa as her sire, while her dam is the Italian Valentina Wind.