Before Sunday’s feature event in Gothenburg, Elkær Stutteri’s Grey Tycoon had won twice in his career, both times at Klampenborg and both times making all the running. This time, Niels Petersen and Carlos Lopez opted for the exact opposite tactics, and the third victory of his career was also the 4-year-old gelding’s first outside Denmark. The first prize in Göteborgs Stora Pris was worth 125,000 Swedish kronor.
Grey Tycoon (Dark Angel) raced at the very rear of the field alongside French Chunky (French Fifteen), while Abby (Appel Au Maitre) took command on the inside ahead of Irish Lioness (Invincible Army) and Mr Pirelli (The Factor).
Not until the end of the turn did Carlos Lopez begin to ask the grey gelding for an effort, and the response was immediate. With 300 metres left to run, Grey Tycoon ignited on the outside of his rivals and quickly took over from Irish Lioness.
At the line he had almost two lengths to spare over the Bettina Andersen-trained Lucien (Hurricane Red), who in turn was the same margin ahead of French Chunky. Cathrine Erichsen, who is also responsible for French Chunky, also picked up fourth place with Irish Lioness, while Nimitz (U S Navy Flag) finished fifth.
The Danish-owned and -bred Lucien also produced a big effort, carrying seven kilos more than Grey Tycoon and following up in fine style on last Saturday’s fourth place in the Zawawi Sprint Cup (L) behind Great Wish (Night Of Thunder) on Klampenborg’s Derby Day.
“The stable has always thought highly of Grey Tycoon. Today he felt at home on the track as well as the going. Already around the turn I could feel that it would take us a long way”, said Carlos Lopez after the race.
Grey Tycoon is by Dark Angel and out of the Shamardal-sired mare Warshah, and he was bred in Ireland by Yeomanstown Stud. Behind Elkær Stutteri are Ingermarie Due Nielsen and Thorkild Møller Nielsen, who have been active owners and breeders for close to 60 years.
Elkær Stutteri bought the horse as a yearling at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale through agent Edgar Byrne.
Sunday’s triumph was the horse’s first success of the current season, which otherwise began with a fifth place in the Longines Conquest Chronograph over 1200 metres on turf at Meydan in February.
“Grey Tycoon has long been aimed at this fine handicap. He is a late-developing, well-bred horse who will hopefully only keep improving. Today’s plan worked out really well, and the finish was very strong indeed”, said Niels Petersen.
Incidentally, Niels Petersen and Carlos Lopez also won last year’s edition of Göteborgs Stora Pris, on that occasion with Empress Bling (Night Of Thunder).
Danish breeding also left its mark on the day’s two opening contests. Åge Mathisen’s Miss Percy (Sir Percy), bred at Stutteri Hjortebo, won the amateur riders’ race over 2200 metres under Tonje Sörvang ahead of Stall Marttorp’s Princess Latifa (Casamento), while third place went to Emma Olsson’s Tiger’s Carlras (Juniper Tree).
Yet another Danish-bred scored in the Fred Armstrong Cup, where Jacob Johansen rode the Jessica Long-trained Mumbo Jumbo (Moohaajim) to the filly’s second win of the year.
Lulu Tøpholm’s Mufid (Lope De Vega) and Jacob Kvisla had to settle for defeat by a neck, with Carrara (Outstrip) in third.
Incidentally, both Miss Percy and Mumbo Jumbo have Appel Au Maitre as their damsire, and the latter was bred by Julie Malmros.
It was a red-letter day for Nicole Nordblad, who recorded her very first victory as a trainer when Per-Anders Gråberg guided her own Isabella Expert (Expert Eye) to a one-length win over 1200 metres ahead of Codify (Lawman) and Have Faith In You (Gale Force Ten).
Stall Plenum’s Steely Queen (Outstrip) got the job done in the Class 5 handicap with Tina Smith in the saddle despite gate 14 in a field of 15 horses.
The 8-year-old mare, trained by Katrine Rönneberg, won by a good length from Norok (Gammarth) and Simmy’s Copshop (Bahamian Bounty).
Nathalie Mortensen both owns and rode the 4-year-old Coachella (Earthlight), who got off the mark by five lengths over 1600 metres for trainer Annette Stjernstrand.
Behind her followed Shamanic (Shaman) and Kajsa Lindsjö’s homebred Donald (Appel Au Maitre) with Jules Mobian.
Vanja Sandrup’s Art Dealer (Showcasing) secured her third win of the year in the Class 3 handicap over 1600 metres, where Lorenzo Putzulu held Samantha Phi (Appel Au Maitre) and Jacob Kvisla at bay by a head – the rider’s second runner-up finish of the day.
Finally, the purebred Arabian race ended with victory on Swedish debut for Terese Compier’s Katchthewind (Mared Al Sahra), who under Alina Öhgren kept Pharitz Dahhia (Dahess) and Per-Anders Gråberg at bay by a neck.
