Trotting star Nuncio was a force to be reckoned with during his two- and three-year-old campaigns in North America. Now a four-year-old racing in Sweden, he's still butting heads with the best.
This past weekend, Nuncio was victorious in the Swedish Breeders Crown for four-year-olds at Eskilstuna. With trainer Stefan Melander at the controls, Nuncio won with a 1:56 mile rate over 2,140 meters.
Now a winner of nine of 12 seasonal starts, Nuncio -- a $7,000 Harrisburg yearling purchase -- surpassed $2 million in career earnings.
(Editor's note: In the photo above Stefan Melander was about to plant a kiss on Nuncio's cheek before the horse veered right, away from his trainer and into Melander's partner Catarina Lundström.)
Another group of participants from North America's harness racing scene were also victorious in Eskilstuna. Jeremiah Riordan has moved from Italy to Sweden and notched his biggest win since he became trainer in Halmstad. Treasure Kronos (Raja Mirchi – Glide About) captured the Breeders Crown for three-year-old fillies. She is owned by the father-son duo of Jeffrey & Michael Snyder along with Canadian Dr. David Goodrow.
The dam of Treasure Kronos, Glide About, had a solid career stateside a mark of 1:54.2 and $291.650 in earnings. She's a sister to a pair of sub-1:52 trotters in O'Brien Award winner Maven and open class trotter Lanson.
Treasure Kronos' winning time was 1:57.2 mile rate over 2,140 meters. Her lifetime bankroll sextupled with the victory.
Trinity Zet (by SJs Photo) won the Breeders Crown for four-year-old mares at 1:57.2 mile rate for Daniel Redén. The winner for three-year-old colts was Pacific Broline (by Celebrity Secret) and Björn Goop. Pacific Broline trotted 1:56.2 mile rate 1:56.2. The horse is co-owned by top French trainer Franck Leblanc.
(with files from Ola Lernå)