by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Nuncio, driven by Stefan Melander, continued his winning streak Thursday night (Sept. 10) at Gävle in Sweden, winning for the fifth time in a row.

This time the 4-year-old trotter sired by Andover Hall was timed in 1:52f, which was a new Swedish record for 4-year-old trotters.

Nuncio raced without shoes on his four hooves for the first time, but Melander still had the overdrive — the earplugs — left.

“I wonder how fast he can trot, if I ever pull the plugs,” Melander said afterwards.

Nuncio won followed by another Expat, Explosive De Vie, who was timed in 1:52.2f.

It’s sales time in Europe now and yearlings sired by North American trotters are highly regarded.

At the annual Kolgjini sale the highest price of $150,000 was paid for the filly Hipster, sired by Cantab Hall. She was bought by Roger Walmann — the man behind D’One and Magic Tonight, who race Saturday night in the eliminations for the Maple Leaf Trot.

Walmann was also the top buyer at the Italian sale ITS as he took home the Yankee Glide filly Vinky Wise As for the top price of $157,000.