ANNIKE BYE HANSEN
Racehorse Trainer
annikebyehansen.com
Emotional win
Karen From Finance flying the family flag
13 Aug 20: Karen From Finance, who is related to the ill-fated champion Captain America, gained an emotional win for everyone connected to Annike Bye Hansen's stable as she outbattled the favourite My Cup Of Tea to win Øvrevoll Hesteierforenings Hoppeløp over 1730 metres on the turf. Getting on top in the last few strides, she displayed some of the battling qualities we saw when Captain America was at his best. She is not in his league but this four-year-old daughter of Eishin Dunkirk certainly is a game performer. Stable companion Al Buraq, a winner of five races in 2019, added further joy by staying with great interest to finish third. She had Jacob Johansen on board, while Karen From Finance was ridden by Elione Chaves. This was Karen From Finance's second win in 2020 and she has earned 72.388 kroner so far this season.
Karen From Finance very smooth at Bro Park
28 Jun 20: Karen From Finance, ridden by Jacob Johansen and overcoming a wide post, captured a competitive handicap over 1600 metres / turf at Bro Park this Sunday. Sent off 3-1 favourite in the 13-runner field, Espen Ski's well bred filly beat Meandro quite comfortably by 1 1/4 lengths, while Sheperd Gate took third and Mr Pimms filled fourth place. Karen From Finance came with a strong run from off the pace, to take control in mid-stretch, and she was an authoritative winner. / Watch the most recent replays via this link.
A dual winner from a family of winners
Karen From Finance is a lightly raced four-year-old daughter of Eishin Dukirk. Idle as a juvenile, she won two of her eight races last season, when she signed off with a gutsy win over 1600 metres on the dirt track in November, beating Our Boy John by a quarter of a length. Our Boy John was coming off a game runner-up effort a week earlier, and he franked the form further by winning next time out. Karen From Finance was not a surprise winner when getting the better of this rival, but she had lit up the boards when breaking her maiden over 1100 metres on the eve of Derby day, as she rewarded her backers to the tune of 44-1 with a win over the Swedish trained rival Cromer that day. This win was also gained by three parts of a length, and Karen From Finance learnt a lot in her first season of racing. She improved steadily through the second half of 2019, climbing from 58 to 63 in the handicapper's list. Can she improve again in 2020? Not impossible, as this filly was given time to develop, showed good enthusiasm for the game in her first season, and produced her best form to date on her last outing. Owned by her breeder, ex-jockey Espen Ski, who also campaigned Sprinter of The Year Captain America, Karen From Finance is out of the Noroit mare Reveenka, a 68-rated winner over 1750 metres at Øvrevoll as a three-year-old. Interestingly, Reveenka was also unraced at two. She was a fairly consistent performer at around 1600 and 1750 metres, but unplaced on the four occasions she was tried over further. There is stamina in the family though. Reveenka also became the dam of Foxcatcher, a full sister to Karen From Finance who won four of her 18 races, scoring twice over 2400 metres, most notably when capturing the valuable Kopparmärralöpning in Gothenburg as a four-year-old. She won both on turf and dirt. GS 24 Feb 20
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
Gearing up for 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