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We’ve got a fantastic week of sport to reflect on today, after some pulsating action at Solvalla.

Last Friday night, the Solvalla Grand Prix decided which four-year-old would be crowned best of the lot.

The favourite for the race was Ecurie D who started from the second row of the pack. That didn’t matter too much though, as Björn Goop got off to a good start and was able to challenge the leader, Power, from the off.

He couldn’t get past him straight away, so had to race around the outside the leader as the race developed. Turning into the straight he was able to get his head in front, but further danger was lurking further behind.

Aetos Kronos was able to creep into the race, and under a perfectly timed drive, was able to sneak past a very brave Ecurie D just before the finish.

Super Saturday for Very Kronos

On Saturday, the much-hyped duel between Cyber Lane and Very Kronos lived up to it’s billing in a top-class race. Despite the fact that the former was able to take an early lead, it was Very Kronos who was strongest at the finish.

With victory he confirmed himself to be the best in Sweden at this point in time.

Although discussions about an international raid were noted prior to the race, trainer Svante Båth confirmed that his star will not be travelling to France, and will instead stay in Sweden and run at Åby this Saturday on what will be his final start of the year.

While Very Kronos was good, the stand-out performance of the day came from Farlander Am. Despite starting his race extremely quickly, he retained the courage to maintain that pace and keep the others him all the way to the line. It will be exciting to see if he can make a step up and challenge the best next year. 

A legend is honoured

Also at Åby on Saturday, we will see one of the biggest profiles in Swedish trotting honoured, namely Legolas - named after the Lord Of The Rings character.

A small horse that simply could not be trained, but thanks to his attitude on the track, he won every contest he started on home soil.

He was invited to the World Cup race in the USA at Roosevelt Raceway 1983 after winning his first nineteen races in row and still undefeated. 

There they got to meet the world's best horses for the first time and the whole of the Swedish trotting industry kept its fingers crossed for its little hero. 

In the end, it was only a second place in the World Cup race for Legolas, finishing behind the world's best horse back then, Ideal Du Gazeau. 

Nevertheless, when he returned home he was hailed as a winner, and is still considered today as the most popular horse in trotting Sweden ever. 

Best bet of the weekend

Now to this week's best bet. 

We’ll be looking to go one better than last week’s pick, Global Agreement, who finished second having been passed just before the finishing line.

Peter Untersteiner was in the sulky that day, and it is he who will be doing the steering on this week’s selection, so we’ll give him another chance.

In race number eight at Åby (17:27) Behind Bars should have a good chance of winning this week, coming from the number three slot. He looks to be my most confident selection on the card. 

Good Luck!


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