by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Senior Newsroom Correspondent

For the first time ever Swedish-owned trotting star Nuncio, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, went off stride in a race. After 54 races, where he had been placed first, second or third in every start, Nuncio made a break just as the gate left the field in the Olympic Trot at Aby Saturday afternoon.

Gerard Forni photo

Lionel’s victory in the Olympic Trot was an emotional one as his co-owner, Kjell Arne Ness died just three weeks ago and longed to see his horse win this contest.

During the warm-up Nuncio has acted a bit rough gaited, but he used to do so, and owner/trainer Stefan Melander seemed to be satisfied with his trotter, who went to post as the 6-10 favorite. With Nuncio out of the race, Norwegian-owned, but Swedish trained Lionel driven by his owner, Göran Antonsen, was able to come from behind to win the 1-5/16 mile event in 1.54.1 (mile rate) followed by Your Highness driven by Bjørn Goop and Oasis Bi driven by Erik Adielsson. The purse for the winner was $170,000.

It was a very emotional victory, as part-owner Kjell Arne Ness died just three weeks ago from cancer. He had hoped to be able to watch Lionel in the Olympic Trot.

For Nuncio the future will tell whether he will be ready for the Elitlopp or not. On Saturday Melander said that he will race Nuncio in a fortnight at Solvalla, but it depends if the horse is ok and that could be questioned after his performance yesterday. If Nuncio will be sidelined, the much anticipated match against Bold Eagle in the Elitlopp will not take place.

Back to Lionel. He is trained by Daniel Redén, who also raced Hambletonian Oaks winner Wild Honey in an Open Trot for mares over 1-5/16 miles. Wild Honey, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, was in command most of the race, and though she showed signs to be in heat, she held off a late charge from Gematria, driven by Erik Adielsson, to win in 1.55.4 (mile rate).

On the undercard the 5-year old gelding, Tjacko Zaz, sired by Crazed, who raced for the first time this year, won in impressive style. Driven by Björn Goop in 1.51.4f the horse trotted the fastest time on a five-eighths mile track in the world so far in 2017.

About one hour earlier at Argentan in France Up and Quick, driven by Franck Nivard, won the Criterium de Vitesse in a new track record of 1.51.3 over the distance of 1-3/16 miles. This would have been a new European record for the mile, if not for Tjacko Zaz’s performance.

Up and Quick, who won the Prix d’Amerique in 2015, has long struggled to return to form, but this was a very impressive performance and he could now go to the Elitlopp.

Monday (May 1) the Gran Premio Lotteria will be raced in Naples, Italy. Timoko of France is the big favorite followed by another French trotter in Un Mec d’Heripre. Not since 1980 has a French trotter won the prestigious race which has a total purse of $880,000 to be divided amongst the three eliminations, a final and a consolation race.