by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

Second favorite Sebastian K, driven by Ake Svanstedt, was an easy winner of the Oslo Grand Prix at Bjerke on Sunday afternoon (May 12).

Gerard Forni photo

Sebastian K was an easy winner of the Oslo Grand Prix.

As the gate left the field Sebastian K went to the front and stayed there to win the 1-5/16th mile event in 1:56.1 (mile rate). The favorite, Maharajah driven by Ôrjan Kihström, got a rough trip as he came slowly away from his outside post and even though he finished strong he came home third behind Sebastian K and Nesta Effe, with Roberto Vecchione.

The purse for the winner was $260,000.

Last year’s winner of the race, Commander Crowe with Mathieu Abrivard in the bike, seems to be out of form and finished last.

Sebastian K is a 7-year-old and this was his 22nd victory from 55 races. He now has earnings of more than $2 million and has a mark of 1:51f.

With less than a fortnight to the Elitlopp, there is still speculation about who will be in the field. At present ten trotters have been invited and since none from the Oslo race who did not have an invitation sparkled, it’s a wide open question as to who will take the remaining six places.

Here is the list of the invited trotters so far: Timoko–France; Sebastian K–Sweden; Maharajah–Sweden; Shags is Back–Sweden; Nesta Effe–Italy; Mack Grace S M–Italy; Brad de Veluwe–Finland; Arch Madness–USA; Formula One–Finland; Take My Picture-Canada.