by Karsten Bønsdorf, USTA Web Senior Newsroom Correspondent
The 8-year-old Italian-bred trotter Ringostarr Treb, driven by Wim Paal and trained by Jerry Riordan, seemed to be in a class of his own in the first big international stake race in Sweden this year, the Olympic Trot at Aby on Saturday (April 28).
Ringostarr Treb last raced at Vincennes on Feb. 11, where he finished fifth in the Prix de France. In this race he took command from the start and handily won the 1-5/16-mile event in a new race record of 1.52.3f (mile rate).
Giveitgasandgo was second, beaten by 3-1/2 lengths. Giveitgasandgo is a North American-bred who is now Norwegian owned and trained. He was driven by Erik Adielsson
The purse for the winner was $175,000.
In France the top trotters met in the Criterium de Vitesse de Basse Normandie at Argentan. And for the second consecutive year 10-year-old Up and Quick, driven by Franck Nivard, won the mile race.
Lady Luck was on Up and Quick’s side, as he was second past the post, however the winner Romanesque was disqualified and placed last. The judges found he was rough-gaited down the stretch. Up and Quick was awarded the win which was worth $60,000 and he was timed in 1:53.4.
Hambletonian winner Perfect Spirit, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström, has qualified for the final in the Kings Trophy on May 12 at Aby with a purse for the winner of $115,000. Also, Enterprise, driven by Johnny Takter and trained by Stefan Melander, finished third behind Perfect Spirit and is ready for the final.