Perfect Spirit takes out another Swedish Group 1

9 July 2018 | Written by Nikki Reed
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The Daniel Redén trained Andover Hall 4-year-old Perfect Spirit claimed his second Swedish Group 1 feature of the year with a dramatic victory in The Sprintermästaren at Halmstad on July 5.

The Sprintermästaren is raced the same as the Hambletonian, with eliminations and a final over a distance of one mile on the same day, but is for 4-year-old trotters.

As the winner of the 2017 Hambletonian with an unbeaten record in Sweden, Perfect Spirit was the odds on favourite for the SEK1,026,000 feature.

Things didn't quite go to plan to begin with though, with the Daniel Redén entire a little lacklustre in his elimination, finishing a distant second to Calle Crown.

Worse than midfield for much of the Final, Perfect Spirit charged home out wide, late in the piece, to just catch Lucifer Lane and win by a neck in 1:53 flat.

The 4-year-old-year trotter has now won 12 of his 24 lifetime starts and $925,000 in stakes-money.

Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Perfect Spirit is out of the Kadabra mare Good Common Cents.

Perfect Spirit is the second son of Andover Hall to win the Sprintermästaren, with the multi-millionaire Nuncio taking out the race in 2015.

Down-under, Andover Hall was represented by his first Group 1 place-getter, with Dream Mastar an eye-catching third in the $90,000 Group 1 Vicbred Super Series 2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings Final at Tabcorp Park, Melton on July 6, while fellow Andover Hall colt Quick Andover was fourth in the race.

On the same evening in New Zealand, the Ross Paynter trained Anditover picked up an Australasian Breeders Crown Heat victory - albeit through a walkover win at Alexandra Park.