For the second year in a row trainer Lea Olsen and jockey Rafael de Oliveira won the Racing Arena Champion Stakes in Aalborg. Last year it was with Prins Valiant, and in the 2022 edition it was with Stutteri Tousgaard’s 6-year-old Appel Au Maitre daughter Aperola.
Aperola wore down Northern Carlras (Bated Breath) in the home straight by a comfortable half a length, with a further half a length back to Araka Li (Havana Gold). Last year’s winner, Prins Valiant (Lope De Vega) took fourth place this time ahead of Speedman (Go Go Gadget), Vupti Carlras (Juniper Tree) and Speedman (Go Go Gadget).
Aperola, who a year ago was second behind Prins Valiant in the same contest, was rewarded with DKK 52,500 for victory in the Racing Arena Champion Stakes.
The mare was bred by Majbritt and Karsten Østergaard’s Stutteri Outback, and she is a full sister to the 4-year-old Good Fortune, who has also delighted this year with victory in Hans Erik Westerbergs Mindeløb as well as second places in both the Dansk Breeders’ Cup behind Iron Butterfly (Swipe) and in Wentworth Pokalløb (L) behind King David (Elusive City).
The achievements of the two full siblings must be said to be impeccable timing for Stutteri Outback, who at the Scandinavian Open Yearling Sale on 23 September are offering a full brother as lot number 79.
Both Lea Olsen and Rafael de Oliveira added another victory on the big race day in Aalborg – though not together.
In Dispol Snapper Maidenløb, Oliver Wilson was in the irons on Lea Olsen’s 4-year-old chestnut filly Good Life (Appel Au Maitre), who comfortably beat the Birgitte Nielsen-trained Comme Il Faut (Lawman) by two lengths, and Rafael de Oliveira rode his second winner on the back of Susi Hald’s Lemon (Victorious Soul), who took the Galopliga Finalen for Class 3 ahead of Strada (Go Go Gadget) and Esphahan (Juniper Tree).
There were also two wins for Keld Chr. Karlsen, whose 13-year-old East Meets West (Dansili) won the Galopliga Finalen for Class 4 under Sara Slot, while the 4-year-old Go Goofy (Goken) struck in Tamarind Hill Handicap for Kelvin C. Belcourt.
And there were likewise two wins for Norway’s Susanne Lyseng, who opened the day by winning Eftiraath Handicap with John Nielsen’s Carino (Kingston Hill), and later also won with Karsten Johansen’s 4-year-old filly Multibox Carlras (Sir Percy).
