There was plenty of drama before the winner of the Swedish Trotting Derby — the biggest race for Sweden’s 4-year-old trotters — could be crowned Sunday afternoon (Sept. 6) at Jägersro Racetrack near Malmö.
A crash after 200 meters meant the race had to be stopped. Ejnar Face, driven by Adrian Kolgjini, was hit from behind; Kolgjini was thrown out of the sulky, but he held on to the reins and managed to stop Ejnar Face.
In the restart, Golden Kronos, driven by Johan Untersteiner — who had broken stride at the start in the first attempt — was able to take the lead and was still in front turning for home, with Wise Guy with Örjan Kihlström on the outside.
After a pocket trip, the longshot Mellby Narrow, driven by Magnus A. Djuse, found racing room at the top of the stretch and attacked the two leaders.
Wise Guy had gotten the better of Golden Kronos, but when Mellby Narrow came up on the outside, Wise Guy broke stride — and lost the runner-up spot, which was worth approximately $156,450. In Scandinavia, a horse is disqualified if it breaks stride within the final 150 meters in the stretch.
Mellby Narrow, trained by Daniel Wäjersten, went on to win in a new race record of 1:55.1f for the mile, ahead of stablemate Golden Kronos. Wäjersten, who had qualified four horses for the Derby, drove the favorite, Zarex, himself. Zarex finished fourth.
Mellby Narrow is by Maharajah and became Maharajah’s third winner of the Swedish Derby. Mellby Narrow is owned and bred by Mellby Gård, which for many years has been one of Swedish harness racing’s leading breeders, but until yesterday had been missing a Derby victory.
The Swedish Trotting Derby is contested over 1-5/8 miles and carried a first prize of approximately $312,900.
The Derbystoet — for 4-year-old mares over 1-5/16 miles and with a first prize of approximately $156,450 — was won by Courant Stable’s Meditate, trained by Stefan P. Pettersson and driven by another Djuse brother, Mats E. Djuse.
Meditate, sired by Greenshoe, is out of Amity Kronos, a daughter of Muscle Hill.