One of the best drivers in the world. Behind a trotter top three in the world.
It went as it went in Guldbjörken at Umåker on Saturday - victory for Propulsion on a new course record after a heavy run.
- I know how tough he is in the final stretch and I was never worried," said Örjan Kihlström.
5,925 people watched the sunny races at Umåker on Saturday and the duel in the selection race for the Olympic race.
Daniel Redén had not started his star since fifth place in the Prix d'Amerique in January and it was a rusty world performer who entered the track in Umeå.
There was drama before the race when Propulsion backed up for the water truck and stepped off a shoe in the warm-up and another shoe was lost in the test starts before the race.
Coach Daniel Redén had to work in the forge and time was running out, which meant that Robert Bergh changed tactics for the race.
Bergh stubbornly answered the lead with Muscle Hustle when the favorite came rushing 1500 meters from the finish. The first 1000 was passed in a fast 1.11,4 and Bergh pulled hard and tough during the final lap.
Örjan Kihlström took it easy on the outside and took his time going down the leader's back through the last curve with world star Propulsion.
- No, I guess I never thought we would lose. But he is a bit phlegmatic in the race and Robban's horse looks like he is jogging at that speed. So if I had never run Propulsion before, I might have been worried," said Örjan Kihlström after winning the new course record in Umeå, 1.11,3 over 2140 meters with autostart.
Muscle Hustle clear second and strong against the overpower after a fun bet by Robert Bergh.
Propulsion becomes a big favorite in the Olympic race at Åby last Saturday in April. The horse is also invited to Elitloppet in May at Solvalla.
Daniel Redén was primarily a farrier this Saturday in Umeå.
- So damn nice. Try and stand there and put the shoe on the horse and you have almost nothing to nail in, and then there's a team inspector saying one minute to go. There's no way he's going to win that race! What a damn horse it is, cheered Daniel Redén.
But there was never any talk of cutting Propulsion, the coach said.
- He needed this race to be in the Olympic race. It would have been a disaster otherwise. It's his last season and I've been training a lot harder and need to get him to lift even more. Sure...the style may not have been flawless today but it will be much better," said Daniel Redén.
Daniel Redén and Örjan Kihlström won the two biggest races at Umåker. In the second biggest race of the day Berth Johansson's Memorial won Son Of God without having to show the bottom.
Björn Karlsson is a coach at the neighboring track Solänget twelve miles south of Umeå and has been aiming for the elite coldblood race Elitkampen for a couple of years with Tangen Haap.
The situation was the worst imaginable in Vårbjörken over 1640 meters but there was no talk. Karlsson found third on the outside early on with Tangen Haap and turned on the third track through the last curve with the horse owned by the ice hockey twins Sedin.
A sweep in the higher education sector.
- As it feels now, Månprinsen A.M. and Lome Brage will have to watch out over 1600 meters. I hope I get an invitation now to Elitkampen, said Björn Karlsson.
Mikael Wikner, Kanal75
Photo: Leif Norberg, ALN/TR Image
