Francesco Zet still king of Sweden’s 2018 crop – US Trotting News
Francesco Zet still king of Sweden’s 2018 harvest
September 4, 2022,
Malmö, Sweden — Francesco Zet, trained by Daniel Redén and driven by Örjan Kihlström, won Sunday’s (September 4) Swedish Trotting Derby at Jägersro.
While it was the first win in a Derby for Redén, it was the fifth time Kihlström was behind a Derby winner.
Francesco Zet, who is the father of Father Patrickwon the Kriterium — the biggest race in Sweden for 3-year-old trotters — in 2021. With his Derby win, he crowned himself the king of the 2018 crop in Sweden.
Francesco Zet almost broke the stride around the last bend, but Kihlström managed to keep him at a trot. Down the stretch, Francesco Zet edged out leader Lulius Boko to win by two lengths, timed at a 1.55.4f mile speed over the 1-5/8-mile route.
The purse for the winner was SEK 4 million – approximately USD 370,000
The filly division was won by Lara Boko (bred by Djali Boko) with Mika Forss on the bike for trainer Timo Nurmos. The handbag cost $185,000.