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Career / Results

Sprinter of The Year 2021

Winner of Bro Park Sprint Championship (LR)

Winner of Bro Park Vårsprint (LR)

Second in Zawawi Cup, Klampenborg

General de Vega has left Skoganstallen (090723)

General de Vega / E Bjoerklund

Click to enlarge

Sire Lope de Vega / www.ballylinchstud.ie

Stabell talk 23

General de Vega - have you missed him?


General de Vega, who was Sprinter of The Year in Norway in 2021 – and nominated as one of the finalists in the same category in 2022 – was restricted to just three starts last season, and he will be on a retrieving mission this year. Two of his runs in '22 were pretty strong, and it was unfortunate that illness prevented him from having a more productive campaign. After having won three of his eight races in '21, he resurfaced in a competitive handicap over 1170 metres / turf at Øvrevoll last June. The ground was soft, five others took him on, he was giving weight to all five, the betting public made General de Vega the even money favourite to come out on top and they were right. Ridden by Jacob Johansen, General de Vega took the race by half a length, chased home by his stable companion Youonlyliveonce. Backcountry was a well beaten third, while Prince Of Tides – the second favourite – wound up in fourth place, beaten 7 ½ lengths. It was what we could call a perfect seasonal debut, in a race contested by runners who all like to win. The first four home have captured no fewer than 37 wins between them.


The Bro Park Vårsprint was next on General de Vega's agenda. He had won the Listed contest a year earlier and he was strongly fancied to repeat, but his arch rival Could Be King just got the better of him, winning the race by a nose as the two high class sprinters fought out a nail biting finish. Brian Ryan, also representing Norway, completed the Trippel, passing the winning post 2 ½ lengths behind the two principals. It was one of the best sprint races all year, and augured really well for the rest of the season. Well, for General de Vega, the season would prove to be all but over, as he ran just once more, coming home last in the Zawawi Cup (LR) on dirt at Jägersro, while Could Be King franked the form by four straight wins in the second half of the season.


General de Vega has turned six now but there should be plenty of mileage left in this warrior. After all, he has had just 15 career start, not much for a horse of his age. He was May foal, so given just one run as a juvenile (winning a maiden) and no more than four at three (when trained by Lars Kelp). He has passed the million-kroner earnings mark and he has 6 wins plus 7 placings to date.


General de Vega's dam, Just Little (Grand Slam) had son by Almanzor at the Tattersalls October Sales last year, and he was bought by leading French trainer Jean Claude Rouget, who went to 115,000 guineas to secure him. This two-year-old colt has been named Adviento. Just Little also has a 2022-filly by Sea The Moon.


There's not much more new to report about General de Vega's family, other than the fun fact that he has a half-brother active over jumps in England these days. Trained by Gary Moore, this gelding has won twice on the flat (once in Listed company in Paris) and twice over hurdles. He is called Naturally High – a name that wouldn't be out of place at Skoganstallen, come to think of it!    GS 260223

An excellent day for Väsby Häst AB

02 June 22: Väsby Häst AB, great supporters of Annike's operation - and of Scandinavian racing in general - enjoyed an incredible half-hour on this Thursday evening fixture, as three of their horses made it to the winners' circle after the first two races on the card. Well, 'only two'  won of course - but it was a fine gesture to invite General de Vega's gallant runner-up, Youonlyliveonce, to the enclosure as well. 

Photos: hesteguiden.com

Early-June silk fashion is green and white! 

Stable companions General de Vega - who was prepping for a bigger task at Bro Park in ten days' time - and Youonlyliveonce ran 1-2 in the first race on the night, a high class sprint over 1170 metres on turf. While General de Vega - last year's champion sprinter, was held up at the back - Younlyliveonce went to the front and set a good pace. He kept on really well up front but General de Vega cruised up to him, took over 200 metres from the winning post, and was pushed out for a tidy win. The two stable companions had the race between them throughout the finish. General de Vega landed de odds easily by half a length and there was a 4 1/4-length gap between Youonlyliveonce and the third placed horses, Backcountry, a winner of 22 races.  Half an hour later the exciting

three-year-old Hard One To Please (right pic) followed up by winning a good maiden heat over 1600 metres. Making only his second start, the son of Fast Company raced too freely going down the back straight but settled better when negotiating the turn. Front-running Holiday had opened up a massive lead at this point and looked strong - though Hard One To Please reeled him in with a smooth run coming up the homes straight. He passed the leader just below the distance and held on gamely to beat the staying-on Sugar Crust. Holiday and Sugar Crust ran second and third behind Game Changer - albeit on dirt - four weeks ago.


We Got The Boss also signaled a return to form with a fine runner-up effort, beaten just half a length behind Valence, later on the card. Please check back for more on Monday. GS

Champion sprinter! Photo: E Bjoerklund

Stabell talk 22

Sprinter of The Year ' 21

General de Vega - mister reliable

With just twelve starts under his belt, General de Vega is a relatively lightly raced five-year-old, and it is not at all impossible that he can improve his form again this season. Sprinters often progress at age five, six, some even when they become older – and there's plenty of mileage left in this horse. He has won five of those twelve races, and been placed second or third on six occasions. In other words, or in numbers if you like, this top sprinter is sporting a healthy 91% top three record – incredibly impressive. He has been unplaced just the once, when fifth in Sysav Voterlopning over 1730 metres on the dirt track at Jagersro as a juvenile. The distance was wrong, the surface was wrong, and he was probably rather an immature youngster at the time as well. As a turf sprinter, General de Vega has become the dream horse – a performer that always gives his best, and delivers again and again. He is at his absolute best over a flat track, however, and his best chances of further success are thus likely to be found at Bro Park. That said, he has some solid results also on home soil, including a win over Abolish in a handicap over 1170 metres at Øvrevoll last June. The winning margin was half a length that day, and Abolish was conceding 2kg. The runner-up ran the better race but that was not going to be repeated when they met again in the Bro Park Vårsprint over 1200 metres at Bro Park ten days later. General de Vega won the race by a measured length from Could Be King, while Abolish finished fourth. Could Be King hit back in the Zawawi Sprint Cup at Klampenborg in August, a course that suits him better than 'the General'. They ran one-two again, with half a length between them. The final round, for now, came as they clashed once more in the Bro Park Sprint Championship in September; and General de Vega came out on top, beating Could Be King by a length. Abolish did his bit for the stable once again, picking up 62,604 kroner for finishing fourth. Good money but a far cry from what the winner earned. General de Vega's win was worth 417,360 kroner. Having a champion makes all the difference. GS 220418

General de Vega winning at Bro Park. Photo: E Bjoerklund

Prestigious award

General de Vega the champion - it's official!

03 Apr 22:  General de Vega was handed a well deserved Sprinter of The Year Award at the ceremonies held at Thon Hotel Sandvika last night. The son of Lope de Vega captured two Listed races in Sweden; the Bro Park Vårsprint and Bro Park Sprint Championship, on both occasions defeating his arch rival Could Be King, and enjoyed an excellent campaign in 2021. He won three of his seven races, and earned 842,611 kroner - taking his career earnings past the million-kroner mark. With performances likes these, General de Vega is one of those unique horses that manage to put Scandinavia  on the international racing map. 

Racing Post    I   Timeform   I   France-Galop      Youtube


General de Vega runs big race in Denmark

08 Aug 21: Väsby Häst AB's high class sprinter General de Vega, who won the Bro Park Vårsprint (LR) in June, beating Could Be King by a length over 1200 metres, clashed with that same rival again in the Zawawi Cup over the same distance on Derby day at Klampenborg – and he produced yet another excellent performance. Could Be King managed to turn the tables on him this time, but there was just a neck between the two. Sandtastic filled third place, three parts of a length behind General de Vega, who was once more partnered by Jacob Johansen. This was General de Vega's ninth career start. He now has four wins and four placed efforts to his name, and 543,411 Norwegian kroner in total earnings. 315,251 has been earned in four starts this season. His next task will be the Giant Sandman Cup (LR) at Øvrevoll Galopp on Norwegian Derby day, August 22. General de Vega has improved from 83 to 91 in the official handicap since Annike took over the training of this fine son of Lope de Vega last year.

General de Vega rock solid at Bro Park. Photo: Elina Bjoerklund, Svensk Galopp

Annike's fourth Vårsprint win

General de Vega in full command

13 June 2021: General de Vega, sporting the white and green silks of Väsby Häst AB and perfectly ridden by Jacob Johansen, broke through at the top level by landing the prestigious Bro Park Vårsprint (LR) in Sweden this afternoon. He thus became Annike's fourth winner of this important event. She has also saddled Ragazzo and dual winner Captain America with success in the 'Vårsprint'. In General de Vega, Annike appears to have found the perfect replacement for the stable's sorely missed champion Captain America. General de Vega came from off the pace and he proved a length too good for the race favourite, Could Be King, who had to settle for second best, half a length in front of Dardenne, who pipped CJ Thoroughbreds AB's ultra consistent runner Abolish by a nose in a fight for third spot. With Ramone taking fifth, this became an absolute clean sweep for the Norwegian raiders. General de Vega, who beat Abolish by half a length as they prepared for this contest at Øvrevoll nine days ago, returned almost 5-1 on the Tote, while Abolish was overlooked by the punters and went off at 22-1.


We Got The Boss, another performer that always gives his all, took third in the Bobbie Killicks Minnesløpning, beaten 2 lengths behind last year's Swedish 2,000 Guineas winner Everest Voice, trained by Wido Neuroth. Swedish Dream finished sixth in the Stockholm Stora Pris (G3), a race he was fourth in two years ago. With these results, Annike's strike rate in June is a healthy 29.4% winners to runners - pretty impressive, especially when we know that stable companions have been forced to take each other on a few times recently. GS

General de Vega and Jacob Johansen coming back in after the Bro Park Vårsprint / Elina Bjoerklund.

We are into June and the horses are running into form

Three winners, one runner-up on the night!

1 General de Vega 2 Abolish / hesteguiden.com

Mudjimba / hesteguiden.com

03 June 2021: Väsby Häst AB enjoyed a fine evening with a double at Øvrevoll Galopp, completed by General de Vega (above), as he ran out a game winner of the Hansinger Handicap over 1170 metres. Partnered by Jacob Johansen, he beat stable companion Abolish by half a length - giving Annike an excellent one-two in the sprint. Her four legged trainees are clearly running into very good form these days.

Mudjimba, ridden by Carlos Lopez, bounced back to form in the Holly Golightly Handicap over 1730 metres, beating Tatum readily by three parts of a length, with Hope And Glory in third place. We Got The Boss - who never runs a bad race - put up a tremendous fight in Hesteierforeningens Handicap, and shared the spoils with Face Of Energima as they ran a dead heat in this traditional contest. Swedish Dream, making his seasonal debut, ran a good second under top weight in a handicap over 1800 metres, and. A fine raceday for Skoganstallen's team!  GS

General de Vega (far side) running third in Dubai.

General de Vega - lightly raced talent

General de Vega is a lightly raced four-year-old, formerly trained in Sweden, who was sent to Annike Bye Hansen's stable last year. He made just the one start at Øvrevoll, finishing a game third behind Backcountry and Match Maker in the highly competitive New Options Handicap in late July. Eight runners went to post for this turf contest, staged over 1370 metres on soft ground, and General de Vega was a slight favourite, taking a little bit more money than Match Maker, a winner over the same trip on his preceding start. Backcountry beat them both, however, coming home 1 ¼ lengths in front of Match Maker, with General de Vega a length further adrift. London Rock, a winner of four races in 2020, was almost four lengths behind him in fourth place. Backcountry franked the form by beating Dardenne in an Eliteløp two weeks later. The reason for General de Vega's subsequent absence from the races was that he underwent successful surgery to remove a bone chip in August.


Norwegian racing fans have yet to witness the absolute best of General de Vega. He had produced some taking performances previously, winning in a canter at Klampenborg in May after having been placed behind a black type runner at Meydan racecourse in Dubai during the winter.


We might as well deal with the Meydan race first; the Dubai Trophy (watch the race), a three-year-old conditions contest over 1200 metres on turf. It was won by one of the race favourites, Godolphin's Listed winner Platinum Star, who beat the 66-1 shot Hamama, while General de Vega was third at 14-1, passing the winning post 2 lengths behind the winner. Hamama was the big surprise but it's well worth noting that he ran third in a minor event at Jebel Ali next time out. Unfortunately, General de Vega became very ill afterwards, and he ended up in an equine hospital in Dubai, rather than in another race at Meydan. His previous trainer Lars Kelp later told galopsport.dk that General de Vega's illness had in fact been life threatening. His next outing came four months later, a visually impressive performance over 1400 metres at Klampenborg in May, when he beat Billy Byrnes comfortably by 2 ½ lengths.


General de Vega has two wins to date, from just five racecourse appearances. Back in 2019, the well bred son of Lope de Vega gained an easy 5-length win in a maiden race over 1200 metres on dirt at Bro Park, beating Never Think Twice in the style of a really talented runner. Dragonfly finished third on the day, beaten 12 lengths by General de Vega. He has had an interrupted career thus far, but what we have seen from him has mostly been positive, and General de Vega could well be a horse to follow in 2021.   GS 070321

Where horses come first - and become winners!

Väsby Häst AB sends two horses to Annike's team

MUDJIMBA AND GENERAL DE VEGA MOVING FROM SWEDEN

Mudjimba. Photo: Elina Bjørklund / Svensk Galopp

General de Vega. Photo: Stefan Olsson / Svensk Galopp

Mudjimba, a three-year-old son of high profile stallion Kodiac out of the Giant's Causeway daughter Causeway Charm, has one win to his name, after just three runs. He won a maiden event over 1400 metres at Bro Park in October last year, when he beat Blue Gem and Hypochondriac in a close finish. Both of the placed runners in this race went on to win subsequently, indicating that Mudjimba's maiden form was useful - though he has himself been unplaced in three outings thus far in 2020. Perhaps a change of scenery will do him good. He is a half-brother to three winners in England / Ireland, successful from 6 to 8 furlongs.  24 Jun 20



General de Vega is a well bred three-year-old who has produced smart form in Sweden and Denmark and been third in a good conditions race at Meydan. A son of dual classic winner Lope de Vega, General de Vega broke his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths over 1200 metres on the dirt track at Bro Park in 2019, and he gained a 2 1/2-length win over 1400 metres / turf at Klampenborg in May. He spent the winter in Dubai, where he finished third in the Dubai Trophy over 1200 metres on turf, beaten just 2 lengths by Godolphin's winner, Platinum Star - a Listed winner in England last year. Out of Prix Vanteaux (G3) winner Just Little (Grand Slam), General de Vega is a half-brother to Radipole, a Listed winning miler in France before being exported to Australia, where he was placed in G2 and G3 events. GS