ANNIKE BYE HANSEN
Racehorse Trainer
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Øvrevoll Galopp | Programmes | Results | 2023 | 2022 I 2021 | 2020
Øvrevoll Galopp | Programmes | Results | 2023 | 2022 I 2021 | 2020
Captain America
Sprinter of The Year!
Captain America
Sprinter of The Year!
1 Feb 2020: He has long since been a stable star, and a favourite with racing fans, and he has a cv packed with impressive achievements. Now Espen Ski's old warrior Captain America also has a well deserved title, Norway's Sprinter of The Year 2019, to his name. The sprint division was a very tough one last season but Captain America beat them all - on the track and in the annual votings crowning champions. Video: Captain America winning Bro Park Vårsprint.
Four Aces up for Annual Awards
Four Aces up for Annual Awards
30 Dec 2019: Four of our horses have been nominated for five divisional awards at the annual 'Horse of The Year' event, to be held at Thon Hotel Oslofjord on Saturday, February 1. Unwanted Beauty, who remarkably broke her maiden - and became Annike's first classic winner - when capturing the 1,000 Guineas, has been nominated both for the award as Three-year-old of The Year and Filly of The Year. Swedish Dream has been nominated in the Mile category, Captain America's name is on the list of nominated Sprinters, while the incredibly genuine and versatile homebred Al Buraq has been nominated for the title Handicapper of The Year. Øvrevoll's Annual Awards Page
Captain America (left) winning Bro Park Vårsprint (Photo: Elina Bjørklund, Svensk Galopp),
and Unwanted Beauty winning Norsk 1,000 Guineas (Photo: Roger Svalsrød, Hesteguiden)
Swedish Dream (left) and Al Buraq seen producing strong performances to win at Øvrevoll (Photos: Roger Svalsrød, Hesteguiden)
Al Buraq, 'miss versatile'
And then she had five...
Al Buraq, 'miss versatile'
And then she had five...
Bro Park 1 Dec 19: Al Buraq, who closed her local campaign out with a fourth win of the year at Øvrevoll last moth, was not done for the year. Annike sent her across to Bro Park for a crack at a nice handicap over 1400 metres on the dirt track on Sunday. Was it a bridge too far? Was it too sharp a distance perhaps? No, and no again - Al Buraq and Alan Wallace prevailed once more, this time by 2 lengths from Across The Pond. Her fifth win of the year in the bag, and 40,000 kronor added to her account. She may be a handicap runner, but Al Buraq has developed to be one of the finest - and we can safely now give her the title "Miss Versatile". It would be hard to find a rival to it!
Photo: Elina Bjorklund / Svensk Galopp
Al Buraq's fourth win of the year
Al Buraq's fourth win of the year
Øvrevoll 17 Nov 2019: The last day of the season saw yet another winner for Annike, as she saddled the lovely Crocker Road filly Al Buraq to win for a fourth time this year. Al Buraq, racing for her breeder Stall Jersey, came from off the pace in Norsk Forening For Fullblodsavl Handicap over 1600 metres, to gain a solid win, beating this year's Derby runner-up Hampus G readily by 2 lengths. Al Buraq was ridden by Alan Wallace. Earning 43,200 kroner, she increased her bankroll to 430,668 kroner. This four-year-old filly, a daughter of Vista Hermosa (Acclamation), has developed into a thoroughly game and consistent runner this season, with 4 wins and 2 placed efforts from 14 runs.
This win meant that Annike rounded her 2019 campaign off with 20 winners from 110 runners. An impressive season is thus in the books. The first time starter Nominado, a son of Crocker Road out of the outstanding mare Theatrical Award, ran a most promising third on the same day, while Sweet Pearl was second to C'Est La Vie later on the card.
Photo: Al Buraq (Hesteguiden)
Karen From Finance cashing in again
Karen From Finance cashing in again
Øvrevoll 7 Nov 2019: Karen From Finance, who broke her maiden over 1100 metres in August, added another win to her record by capturing the Directa Lubeca Løp over 1600 metres on the dirt track - as thoroughbred racing in Norway completed its penultimate day of the season. Owned by her breeder, ex-jockey Espen Ski, Karen From Finance is a daughter of Eishin Dunkirk out of the Noroit mare Reveenka. She put up a gutsy performance, fending off Our Boy John to win by three parts of a length. Dale Swift, who partnered her also for her first win, was once more on board. This was Annike's 19th visit to the winners' circle this the season - placing her third on the trainers' list in terms of winners. Photo: Roger Svalsrød / Hesteguiden
Abolish - an exciting new recruit
Abolish - an exciting new recruit
7 Nov 2019: Annike has a new owner on her side, who acquired two very interesting runners at the recent Horses in Training Sales in Newmarket: the ex-French 3yo colt Abolish (seen winning over 1400 metres at Fontainebleau in France on the left), and Tulfarris, a 3yo colt with racing experience from both France and England. Abolish, a well bred Juddmonte product, gained one win and was placed second or third four times from just seven starts in France, where he beat horses that went on to run respectably in Listed company. Trained by David Smaga, Abolish achieved 41 kg as his best handicap mark in France. His current mark is 39.5 kg. Click on to open his page on France-Galop's website and his Tattersalls catalogue page. A son of Sepoy, Abolish comes from the same family as champions Zafonic, Zamindar and Announce.
Tulfarris - brings strong Ascot form to the table
Tulfarris (Zoffany), who won the Grand Criterium de Vittel when trained in France as a juvenile, produced his career best performance just weeks before the sales in Newmarket, as he was narrowly beaten in the highly competitive Mar-Key Classified Stakes over a mile at Ascot on October 4. Representing trainer Charlie Fellowes, he went down by only a head to the Hamdan Al Maktoum owned Sawwaah. This run pushed his British handicap mark up to 90. Tulfarris has finished in the first three in 7 of his 13 starts to date, and produced his best form when racing over a mile, the distance he tackled also when second in a strong Doncaster handicap in the spring. Click on to open his Racing Post page / his Tattersalls catalogue page (where info on his most recent start is not included).
Al Buraq and Peer Gynt set to meet
Siblings in the same race
Al Buraq and Peer Gynt set to meet
Siblings in the same race
5 Nov 2019: It does not happen very often in thoroughbred racing, but on this coming Thursday evening, the penultimate raceday of the season at Øvrevoll, full siblings will compete in the same race - as Al Buraq meets her younger brother Peer Gynt in Devilry Løp, a handicap over 1750 metres. Annike, who is set for a busy evening, will also saddle We Got The Boss for the same contest.
Six other stable companions will run in other races; Swedish Dream, Mestre dos Magos, Sweet Pearl and Calcaterre all going for glory in Eliteløp over the same distance, while Acongagua (Desert Warrior Løp, 1100 metres) and Karen From Finance (Directa Lubeca løp, 1600 m.) round out our strong team. "These nine horses are all in fine form, they are set for a five-month rest after this", Annike comments, "and it is important that we (the trainers) help out with filling the fields on end of season racedays".
First and second in Høstfinale!
First and second in Høstfinale!
Øvrevoll 24 Oct 2019: Høstfinale Sølvdivisjon, a highly contentious handicap over 1600 metres on the dirt track, was turned into a battle between two of our runners, as Calcaterre (ridden by Dale Swift) won the race from We Got The Boss (Nora Hagelund Holm). Mestre dos Magos (Carlos Lopez) finished fourth, with 50.955 kroner (of the 73.440 kr on offer) went to our horses. Annike and her excellent team enjoyed yet another good day at the races! Photo: Roger Svalsrød / hesteguiden
Annike's impressive 48% efficiency factor - second best in the land
Annike's impressive 48% efficiency factor - second best in the land
22 Oct 2019: With four racedays left before the Norwegian racing season of 2019 comes to a close, a look at the statistics makes for interesting reading. Niels Petersen, with by far the biggest string, is heading towards another trainer's championship, a title decided based on prize money earned. People looking at the efficiency factor know that prize money amassed tells but half the story when it comes to assessing a trainer's achievements.
Comparing the best trainers' efficiency factor of top three finishers through the current season at Øvrevoll reveals an interesting top five:
1 - Wido Neuroth 54% (50-for-91)
2 - ANNIKE BYE HANSEN 48% (43 - 89)
3 - Tobias Hellgren 46% (21 - 45)
4 - Cathrine Erichsen 45% (36 - 80)
5 - Are Hyldmo 44% (52 - 116)
Annike has had 89 runners so far in 2019, with 17 winners, 10 runners-up and 16 third placed finishers. amassing 1.661.673 kroner in earnings.
In addition, she has saddled 10 runners in Sweden, with a deeply impressive 1-3-1 return (50% top three) and 565.200 kronor in earnings.
Stable companions set to meet
Stable companions set to meet
21 Oct 2019: Three of our horses, Mestre dos Magos (Carlos Lopez), Calcaterre (Dale Swift) and We Got The Boss (Nora Hagelund Holm) are all going for Høstfinale - Sølvdivisjon, a competitive handicap over 1600 metres on the dirt track, on Thursday evening.
Øvrevoll 6 Oct 2019: It's a great shame the 2019 season is heading towards its close, as Annike's horses just keep on winning - and they keep on winning big. On this high profile Sunday, we saw Captain America bounce back to winning form by capturing Norsk Jockeyklubs Sprintløp (LR). Running a huge race under Carlos Lopez, he defeated the Swedish trained win machine Prime Red and the hot favourite Duca di Como readily by 3/4 length and 1 1/4 lengths. A first prize of 125,000 kr brings the nine-year-old's career total to an impressive 2,372,219 kroner. Photo: Hesteguiden
A strong field of seven lined up for a crack at 150,000 kroner in the Arnfinn Lunds Minneløp (LR). Amongst them was Stall Øvrevollkollen's Swedish Dream, and he was the one who came back a winner after the mile race had been completed. Proving half a length too good for Buddy Bob, Swedish Dream gained his third win of the season. Like Captain America, he was partnered by leading rider Carlos Lopez. Five-year-old Swedish Dream's career earnings now stand at 850,774 kroner. There should be more to come. Please click photos to enlarge. Photo: Hesteguiden
Clashing with Peer Gynt
Lille My back in the fold
Clashing with Peer Gynt
Lille My back in the fold
Lille My (Photo: Hesteguiden), who won a good maiden for us last year, is now back on the team. My Racing's smart daughter of Zoffany will be one of two runners from Skogan Stables on Thursday (Oct 3), when Peer Gynt is also set to go to post. They will both take part in race three, an interesting 3yo contest over 1750 metres on the dirt track. Anna Pilroth takes the ride on Lille My, while Jan-Erik Neuroth, who is in a battle for the jockeys' championship, has been booked for Peer Gynt. (1 Oct 19)
Exciting runners on Super Sunday
Øvrevoll is staging an 'Autumn Super Sunday' on October 6, and Annike will be saddling four runners on the big day. All four are in with a good chance. Swedish Dream is among the favourites for Arnfinn Lunds Minneløp (LR), Captain America is expected to play a leading role in the prestigious Norsk Jockeyklubs Sprintløp (LR), juvenile filly Frøken Filippa is set to make her debut in the Norsk Forening For Fullblodsavls 2-Årsløp and We Got the Boss goes for his third win of the year in Thon Hotel Oslofjord Handicap.
Swedish Dream and Calcaterre in fine form
Swedish Dream and Calcaterre in fine form
Øvrevoll 18 Sep 2019: One winner per raceday, at least, seems to be the norm for Annike's operation these days. Her two contenders in the afternoon's high class mile handicap, Swedish Dream and Calcaterre filled first and third. Swedish Dream, ridden by Carlos Lopez, made all to beat Fiftyshadesfreed, while Calcaterre (Nicolaj Stott) stayed on really well to get up for third place.
Champagnegaloppens 3-year-old won again
We really do have The Boss!
Champagnegaloppens 3-year-old won again
We really do have The Boss!
Øvrevoll 25 Sep 2019: Another raceday, another winner!
This time it was We Got The Boss, Champagnegaloppens handsome three-year-old son of US champion sprinter Street Boss, who ended up in the winners circle. Ridden by by Nora Hagelund Holm, he once more lived up to his name, bossing the field through the last two furlongs, to win the mile handicap by 2 lengths from Rue 'Argent. This win was worth 31.680 kroner. A nice addition to the 52,200 kroner he earned when winning on Derby day.
Photo: Hesteguiden
Going for gold at Bro Park
Strong trio set for Scandinavia's biggest raceday
Going for gold at Bro Park
Strong trio set for Scandinavia's biggest raceday
Stockholm Cup International day at Bro Park on Sunday Sep 22, arguably the most important fixture in the Scandinavian racing calendar, will see a strong team of three from Annike Bye Hansen's successful string in action.
Stakes bound stable stars Captain America and Unwanted Beauty (photo: Geir Stabell) will be accompanied across the border by the evergreen 11-year-old Majestic Max, who is set to run in the second race on a high class card, a valuable sprint handicap. Next up is 1000 Guineas heroine Unwanted Beauty, who drops back to 1600 metres in the Lanwades Stud Stakes (LR), after a game second over 2400 metres in the Erik O Steens Memorial on Derby day. Some 50 minutes later, our top class speed merchant Captain America goes for the Clarion Sign Bro Park Sprint Championship (LR). Returning to turf racing, he will once more be ridden by Carlos Lopez. Unwanted Beauty gets Per-Ander Gråberg back on board, while Lopez has also been booked to partner Majestic Max.
Stockholm Cup International day begins at 13.00 local time.
Pick up your Bro Park racecards here
Keeps on defying the handicapper
Third straight win for Mestre dos Magos
Keeps on defying the handicapper
Third straight win for Mestre dos Magos
Øvrevoll 5 Sep 2019: Winning three handicaps on the bounce is a very difficult thing to achieve - but two of our horses have managed the feat in 2019. Al Buraq did it in the space of five weeks in June / July, and Mestre dos Magos (pic) followed up as he gained his third straight win in Sisu Hest & Husdyr Løp over 1750 metres on the dirt track this Thursday evening. Ridden by Carlos Lopez, who partnered him also when he won at the Derby weekend, Mestre dos Magos was close to the pace throughout, worked his way forward in the straight, took command approaching the final furlong, then ran on gamely under pressure to take the race by a measured length from Crossroad Blues, who pipped the early leader Dickie Dickens for second place. Earning 31,680 kroner, Mestre dos Magos pushed his career total to an impressive 790,168 kroner. He is owned by Stall Isabel and was bred in Norway by Johan C. Løken. Mestre dos Magos is a son of Academy Award out of the Oktan daughter Goodrun, who was a useful sprinter with 3 wins and 5 placed efforts from 19 starts. She was also bred by Løken, raced in his colours, and was trained by Annike.
Calcaterre - stepping up in distance after some fine runs over sprint distances - finished fourth in the same race, while the aforementioned Al Buraq checked in fifth. Our Derby day winner We Got The Boss ran a really game race to be a close second behind Holy Romance over 1800 metres / turf earlier on the card. GS
Captain America game in defeat at Bro Park
Captain America game in defeat at Bro Park
4 Sep 2019: Captain America - fresh from an excellent second in the Polar Cup (G3) on Norwegian Derby day - ran another fine race in the Svenskt Mesterskap for Sprinters at Bro Park on this Wednesday afternoon. Having won the Bro Park Vårsprint (LR) over 1200 metres on turf at this venue in June (photo: Elina Bjørklund), he now switched back to dirt, and came with a game run from off the pace to get up for second, beaten only by Basie. The track favoured speed on the day and this was an impressive runner-up effort. Captain America, one of the most consistent in the top division of sprinters, won this event in 2016.
Derbyday 2019
Continued success
We Got The Boss, Captain America
and Unwanted Beauty all in top shape
Derbyday 2019
Continued success
We Got The Boss, Captain America
and Unwanted Beauty all in top shape
Øvrevoll 25 Aug 2019: Annike's tremendous run of success continued on Derby day. After three winners on the eve of the big racing feast, her stakes performers produced more excellent results. We Got The Boss (photo: Geir Stabell), owned by Champagnegaloppen, captured the Nordpool Spa Løp, worth 52,200 kroner. Unwanted Beauty, owned by Stall Lillemax, ran second in the prestigious Erik O. Steens Memorial, earning 100,000 kroner, and Espen Ski's top class sprinter Captain America pushed the odds-on favourite Duca di Como all the way to the line in the Polar Cup (G3). His runner-up effort was worth 150,000 kroner, increasing his seasonal earnings to an impressive 431,371 kroner. GS
Shaping up to Derby day
Annike sends out Saturday treble
Shaping up to Derby day
Annike sends out Saturday treble
Øvrevoll 24 Aug 2019: "I hope I haven't used up all my luck", Annike Bye Hansen said after the dust had settled on the eve of Derby day, when she saddled three winners. First time starter Peer Gynt (pic), a full brother to the smart filly Al Buraq, started the show with a solid win in the opening race on this Saturday. Delivering a powerful punch to break his maiden at first time of asking, he looked a really exciting prospect.
Mestre dos Magos as expected,
Karen From Finance stunning the experts
Half an hour later, Mestre dos Magos took the Norsk Forening For Fullblodsavl Løp - and this was as expected; it was his second win in nine days Carlos Lopez partnered both of these well backed winners but Annike's third winner on the day, Karen For Finance (ridden by Dale Swift), was a surprise to experts and punters alike. Her off-the-pace success came at tasty odds, as she returned 43-1 when breaking her maiden with a game performance. GS
Saturday treble: Peer Gynt (star), Mestre dos Magos (green silks) and Karen From Finance (blinkers)
Photos: Roger Svalsrød / Hesteguiden
Strong team set for
Derby weekend 2019
Strong team set for
Derby weekend 2019
19 Aug 2019: Team Annike Bye Hansen is right on target for racing action on Saturday and Sunday, when we will see 11 runners from Annike's base, the historic Skogan stable. Peer Gynt - making his first racecourse appearance - will run in the opening race on Saturday. His sister Al Buraq goes to post later on the afternoon, trying to win for a fourth time this season. She will be challenged by another Skogan inmate, Mestre dos Magos, who is coming off a recent win and looks the likely favourite. Calcaterre will be our next runner. He has also been to the winners' circle already in 2019. Finally, Karen From Finance gets her chance to shine.
Derby day could become very exciting. 1,000 Guineas heroine Unwanted Beauty (pic) steps out of her own age group, and moves up in distance, as she goes for the valuable Erik O Steens Memorial, a race that has also attracted Ginseng. Our top sprinter Captain America will be amongst the favourites in the Polar Cup (G3), while Swedish Dream holds claims in the Marit Sveaas Minneløp (G3). We Got The Boss is set for the Nordpool Spa Cup and Sweet Pearl makes her eagerly awaited seasonal bow in the Derby Mile. GS
Majestic Max game in Göteborgs Stora
Majestic Max game in Göteborgs Stora
18 Aug 2019: Norwegian trained runners dominated the valuable Göteborgs Stora Pris, as Dardenne won the sprint from our contender Majestic Max (left in pic) and Shantou. Majestic Max lost nothing in defeat. Running a thoroughly game race, he earned 75,000 kroner - giving the team a nice start to Derby week. Foto: Stefan Olsson / Svensk Galopp
Mestre dos Magos' sixth win!
Mestre dos Magos' sixth win!
Øvrevoll 15 Aug 2019: Mestre dos Magos has regained winning form! The lovely seven-year-old produced an excellent performance, making an otherwise grey day nice and bright for us, as he beat multiple winners Crossroad Blues and Mustajiid in a high quality handicap over 1600 metres on the dirt track. Alan Wallace, one of the top pilots on the Scandinavian circuit, gave him a perfect ride. This was the Academy Award son's sixth career win, boosting his bankroll by 31,680 kroner. He has also been placed second nine times, and run third eight times - from 56 starts. GS Photo: Roger Svalsrød
Unwanted Beauty's class shines through
Unwanted Beauty's class shines through
Øvrevoll 25 July 2019: Unwanted Beauty, a surprise winner when breaking her maiden in the Norsk 1000 Guineas in June, confirmed her class with a comfortable 3 1/2-length win over older horses in a handicap over 1730 metres. As the only three-year-old in the very competitive field, she was racing off handicap mark 82, which is 6 kg (12lb) higher than prior to her classic win - and she shrugged it off in no uncertain manner. Accomplished runners like I And I, Killroy and Anachronist, who was coming off two straight wins, were in opposition - none of them could give her a race. Instead, Lord Of Trouble, a winner of seven races, came back to form to run second, without ever posing a serious threat.
Unwanted Beauty (photo: Hesteguiden) earned 31,680 kroner for owners Stall Lillemax. She has earned 236,016 kr. thus far this season - in just three starts. Sandro De Paiva was once more in the saddle. GS
Al Buraq's third straight win
Al Buraq's third straight win
Øvrevoll 18 July 2019: Stall Jersey's lovely filly Al Buraq (photo: hesteguiden) is one of the most successful handicap runners in Scandinavia these days. She gained yet another win at this evening fixture, her third on the bounce, as she denied Our Boy John to win by a neck over 1370 metres over the turf course. Al Buraq's handicap mark was 64 kg when she won over 1730 metres on June 12, and it has since risen to a respectable 72 kg. Well backed on the day, Al Buraq went off as the clear favourite, and she obliged with yet another solid, thoroughly game performance. She was ridden by Sandro De Paiva - stepping in for Carlos Lopez, who had partnered her in her two previous wins. This success was worth 26,880 kroner, increasing her seasonal earnings to 122,650 kroner. Her career total now stands at 352,675 kroner. GS
Three runners - two winners!
Three runners - two winners!
Øvrevoll 11 July 2019: Our excellent run of form continues. We had three runners on this summer evening and two of them ended up in the winners' circle. Al Buraq, gaining her second win of the term, was rewarded with 57,600 kroner for her impressive display in the Norsk Rikstoto Cup, run over 1600 metres. Ridden by Carlos Lopez, the Stall Jersey owned four-year-old was well on top at the finish, scoring comfortably by 4 1/2 lengths from Roman Princess.
Calcaterre (photo: hesteguiden.com), partnered by Dale Swift, captured the Lach Cup, staged over 1170 metres on the turf course. Shouldering 68 kg (151 pounds), he delivered some performance, beating Pirlo (59 kg) by a length and a half. The winner's slice of the purse in this event was 26,880 kroner.
Ginseng, our third runner this evening, ran respectably to finish fourth in the La Zona Løp over 2160 metres, with Carlos Lopez in the irons. The firm going was not quite to her liking and she ran well under the circumstances. GS
Calcaterre - incredibly tough under top weight.
Al Buraq - very comfortable. Photos: Hesteguiden
Norsk 1000 Guineas
Beautiful and historical
Annike saddles her first classic winner
as Unwanted Beauty breaks her maiden
Norsk 1000 Guineas
Beautiful and historical
Annike saddles her first classic winner
as Unwanted Beauty breaks her maiden
Øvrevoll 29 June 2019: Unwanted Beauty was still a maiden when cantering down to the start for the Tattersalls Norsk 1000 Guineas, but she was a totally unexposed commodity - and rumours about a sensational last piece of work were circulating. No smoke without fire; that final stretching of legs leading up to the classic was certainly not deceptive - Unwanted Beauty produced a vastly improved performance on the big day, and came back a winner. Not only did the attractive daughter of Iffraaj break her maiden in the Guineas, she also provided Annike with her first classic winner. It would come as a big surprise if it were to be the last.
Unwanted Beauty was ridden by Sandro De Paiva. Together they simply crushed the opposition, in a 3 1/2-length romp from the Swedish trained contender For The Roses. Ramone, champion juvenile filly in 2018, filled third, while the favourite Nouvelle Lune wound up in fourth place. Unwanted Beauty's future has not been mapped out - but it's safe to assume that it will be a bright one. She was purchased for just 12,000 guineas at the 2019 Tattersalls February Sales. Her catalogue / pedigree page.
Captain America runner-up in Challenge Stakes
Bro Park 30. June 2019: Espen Ski's top sprinter Captain America put up yet another fine performance at Bro, but had to settle for second in the 1400 metres long Challenge Stakes, narrowly beaten by Sarookh, with Monza back in third. Text & Photo: Geir Stabell
Four runners on Oslo Cup day, Captain America favourite at Bro Park
Four runners on Oslo Cup day, Captain America favourite at Bro Park
With four runners on the big day at Øvrevoll, we are heading for an exciting weekend June 29-30;
Majestix Max, Calcaterre, Unwanted Beauty and
Mestre dos Magos (Photo: Roger Svalsrød) are all set to run.
The focus switches to Bro Park on Sunday, when Captain America, will be an obvious
favourite for the prestigious Challenge Stakes, a sprint worth 300,000 kroner.
Captain America
takes Bro Park Vårsprint
Captain America
takes Bro Park Vårsprint
Bro Park 16 June 2019: Captain America, keeping his form and enthusiasm at age nine, put up yet another top class performance to beat the best sprinters in Scandinavia in the Bro Park Vårsprint (LR) over 1200 metres (about 6 furlongs) on this important fixture.
Ridden by the in-form Sandro De Paiva, he came with a strong run from off the pace, delivering his challenge going wide to win the race going away by a length from Riwaj. Brownie stayed on to get up for third place.
Captain America, owned by retired top jockey Espen Ski, was coming off a nice prep race at Øvrevoll nine days earlier, when he ran a close third to Story Minister over 900 metres, while conceding 12 kg (26 lb). Story Minister gave that piece of form a boost by winning - for the third time on the spin - on Thursday, and it was thus a bit surprising to see Captain America return 22-1 at Bro Park. He won this race also two years ago but injury forced him to the sidelines from July last year to this May.
The imposing son of Academy Award has previously also landed the Svenskt Mesterskap Classic and Svenskt Mesterskap for Sprinters (championship races for Swedish bred horses). The Bro Park Vårsprint was his 16th win from 57 runs. With 200,000 kroner added to his bankroll, his earnings now stand at 1,979,345 kroner. Captain America has finished in the first three in 52% of his races. A son of the Mujadil mare Muja Maiya, he was bred by his owner.
Fine effort by Swedish Dream
Half an hour after Captain America'ss win, his stable companion Swedish Dream ran a good race to finish fourth in the Stockholm Stora Pris (G3) over 1750 metres. He set the pace, going sensible fractions, but was passed by Learn By Heart, King David and Christmas. Swedish Dream had some accomplished names behind, including Our Last Summer and Duca di Como. A French bred son of Helmet, he is racing in the silks of Stall Øvrevollkollen. This result confirms his place in the top division of turf runners.
Ginseng checked in seventh in the Bloomers' Vase (LR) but Stall Felix's nice filly was beaten no more than 2 1/2 lengths by the classy winner Appelina, who captured the race for our good neighbour Wido Neuroth. GS
Stall Jersey's Al Buraq
looking very strong
Øvrevoll 12 June 2019: Al Buraq found winning form over 1730 metres on a rather testing turf course. The four-year-old filly was out the back early on in the contest, as Carlos Lopez gave her a patient ride. She finished by far the best through the last two furlongs, and battled on to a gutsy win, beating the in-form Deecider by a length, with Prince Field back in third.
Her third career success,
showing stamina beyond her pedigree
This was Al Buraq's third win from 23 outings and brought her earnings to 268,195 kroner. Her two previous wins were gained on the dirt track, over 1100 metres as a juvenile and over 1750 metres last season, when her best handicap mark was 71 kg. Al Buraq, a neat, attractive daughter of Crocker Road, displayed stamina in this race and she could well prove effective over even further - though her pedigree says otherwise. Her dam, Vista Hermosa (Acclamation), also racing in Stall Jersey's colours, was a very useful performer, winning four races over 1100 metres and 1200 metres (on turf and dirt). She was a daughter of a top class sprinter out of Mizillablack (by Eagle Eyed), who won over 5 furlongs in England at two and was never tried over further than 6 furlongs. Geir Stabell
Left to right: Captain America (Photo: Elina Bjørklund, SG), Ragazzo (private), Majestic Max (Photo: Stefan Olsson, SG), We Got the Boss (Hesteguiden)
Left to right: Captain America (Photo: Elina Bjørklund, SG), Ragazzo (private), Majestic Max (Photo: Stefan Olsson, SG), We Got the Boss (Hesteguiden)