Sweden’s Evelina Rönnlund, who this year has started out as an apprentice in Tina Mortensen’s stable, made a perfect start at her new home track on Saturday afternoon, when she rode her mentor’s The Patriot to a comfortable victory in Aalborg Hesteejerforenings Åbningsløb.
The 5-year-old The Patriot (Primatico) set off at a strong early pace together with the Mikkel Johansen-trained Foretell (Dark Angel). The result was that Foretell had to throw in the towel under Victoria Larsen even before the home turn, while The Patriot carried on undaunted.
Down through the home straight the Karsten Johansen-trained Good Life (Appel Au Maitre) and Susanne Lyseng came closer, but The Patriot had more than a length in hand over his rival at the line.
In third place followed Keld Chr. Karlsen’s Alli Cat (Kahyl) ahead of stable companion Vupti Carlras (Juniper Tree) and Mikkel Johansen’s Yoyo (Charm Spirit).
The first prize in Aalborg Hesteejerforenings Åbningsløb was worth DKK 15,000 to Peter Johansen, and it was The Patriot’s third career victory in only 12 starts.
Evelina Rönnlund has now won races at Klampenborg, Jydsk Væddeløbsbane and in Aalborg this season, in which she has so far recorded four wins and three second places in 14 rides – equivalent to a strike rate of 29 per cent.
The afternoon’s second race in Aalborg, a Class 4 handicap over 1800 metres, went to Camilla Løgtved’s 7-year-old Carino (Kingston Hill), who won under a jubilant Mauree Yogessen.
Carino shot through on the inside of Borodino (Strategic Prince) and Zascha (Appel Au Maitre) in the home straight and snatched the DKK 13,000 first prize for Camilla Løgtved and Lasse Jørgensen.
