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This week, the Swedish trotting community is in mourning, as we bid farewell to a champion.

Järvsöfaks, the world’s best cold blood of all time came to the end of his days at the age of 26.

With a career spanning many years, he held an unimaginable CV of 201 victories from 234 starts.

He also still holds the record for the fastest pace recorded by a cold blood, clocking 1:17.9 mins/km back in 2005 - an accolade that has stood for 15 years.

Whilst we mourn, we also celebrate a true champion of the sport.

The big races keep on coming

Back on the track, it was a disappointing weekend for Ecurie D fans. The Swedish superstar looked to be heading for victory in the European Derby at Vincennes, when unexpectedly breaking into a gallop in the final few strides causing instant disqualification.

Instead, victory went to Swedish Power who got up in the dying embers of the race to put his head in front and claim the first prize of €200,000.

Robert Bergh was the man in the sulky, and the training mastermind behind not just that victory, but also the winner of this year’s Swedish Derby winner Hail Mary.

Both horses will be out again on Sunday when they begin the qualification process for the final big event of the year.

Solvalla is the venue as the best trotters in the country line up on Sunday in a bid to qualify for the Breeders Crown. 

There are races for the three and four-year-olds, while the mares also have their own race.

Once we have our finalists, the big prizes will be decided in two weeks time at Eskilstuna, around 100km west of Stockholm, with SEK 800,000 heading the winners of each final race.

Also on Sunday, there is important trotting action in Italy. The Lotteria race, a contest which should have originally been run in May, but was postponed due to Covid-19, will be decided on the Agano track in Naples.

The event is the second largest sprint race in Europe after Elitloppet, held at Solvalla in May.

Favourite for this year’s contest will be the French horse, Face Time Bourbon, usually driven by Sweden’s own Björn Goop, who will bid to defeat the Italian elite.

Can we make it three winning bets in a row?

We had yet another winning best bet last weekend, with Born Unicorn returning a dividend of £3.63 en route to victory - I hope you have managed to follow some of these tips.

This week’s top tip comes on Saturday at Örebro. I think Seismic Wave will win race 9 (3:50) from the number 10 spot.

He has to overcome starting in the second row, but he has the best speed of these and possesses the experience required to get around the field here. I expect him to have found his way to the front before they cross the finish line.

Good luck!


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