Sweden’s glorious Elite Race canceled on Sunday
For the first time in three years, spectators at Solvalla get to witness one of the world’s biggest trotting races.
by Thomas Hedlund
After two years of a global pandemic, seleracing fans will return to Solvalla this weekend for one of the biggest racing days in the world.
The $ 1,015,000 elite race, which will compete on Sunday (May 29), is as spectacular as ever with 15 challengers chasing their place in the final.
The draw, which took place on Sunday (May 22) in the afternoon and was broadcast on Swedish television, leaves the Elite Race 2022 a very open deal.
Sweden’s glorious Elite Race on Sunday For the first time in three years, spectators at Solvalla will witness one of the world’s largest trotting races. by Thomas Hedlund After two years of a global pandemic, seleracing fans will return to Solvalla this weekend for one of the biggest racing days in the world. The $ 1,015,000 elite race, which will compete on Sunday (May 29), is as spectacular as ever with 15 challengers chasing their place in the final. The draw, which took place on Sunday (May 22) in the afternoon and was broadcast on Swedish television, leaves the Elite Race 2022 a very open deal. The experience of the Elite Race Weekend is very much about the weather and the overall atmosphere around the track. As of Wednesday, Sunday was becoming a wet event, just like 2019, the last time Solvalla opened its doors to spectators. ALN HISTORY CONTINUES
The experience of the Elite Race Weekend is very much about the weather and the overall atmosphere around the track. As of Wednesday, Sunday was becoming a wet event, just like 2019, the last time Solvalla opened its doors to spectators.
In addition to any bad weather, Solvalla’s competition card on Saturday and Sunday has many nice races and horses and it will certainly be a nice show that takes place around the oval outside Stockholm.
Of course, if anything is missing, it is the limited presence of foreign horses in the main competition, the Elite Race. When American-educated Back Of The Neck chose not to participate, time was not on Solvalla’s side and the track’s sports general Anders Malmrot could not find a replacement horse from America in such a short time. It’s a shame and if the Elite Race is to be considered the best international mile race in the world for the older elite, more horses from abroad need to be invited at an earlier stage in the race’s construction process.
But it’s still an exciting weekend ahead of us and it’s not just the main race that is high class.
Saturday’s card contains $ 122,000 Sweden Cup (three heats, nine horses in the final), $ 205,000 Harper Hanover’s race over 3,140 meters and finals in all divisions of the V75.
Saturday’s competition program available here.
Finals in two divisions of the Breeders Course for 3-year-olds can be found on race card Sunday, where the open class offers $ 102,500 to the winner. It is simply crowded with good races as usual when Solvalla prepares for this year’s biggest event.
Sunday’s competition program available here.
Pink is the color this weekend. The color of the Elite Race.
ELITLOPPET HEAT 1
Horse – Father – Trainer – Driver – Land
- Önas Prince – Chocolatier – Per Nordström – Sweden
Five-year-old Önas Prince won big titles last season and coach Per Nordström has been clear with his goal with this talented trotter. If he could choose a pole position in a knockout heat, he would have picked number 1. This will be Önas Prince’s big survey.
- Brother Bill – From Above – Timo Nurmos – Jorma Kontio – Sweden
Brother Bill, 6-year-old, has competed against horses like Hail Mary, Power and Don Fanucci Zet throughout his career and although he lacks a win in 2022, Timo Nurmo’s trotter has enough skills to be a serious factor in this heat.
- Cokstile – Pretty easy – Erik Bondo – Christoffer Eriksson – Italy
Cokstile won the 2020 edition of the Elite Race after Propulsion was disqualified due to a nervous breakdown in the United States. The Norwegian-educated 9-year-old impressed in Finlandia-ajo earlier in May and from a perfect number he should secure a place in the final.
- Perfetto – Majestic Son – Dagfinn Henriksen – Canada
The only American element in the Elite Race 2022 and the most difficult horse to put in the context of the race. A sprinter who can, or will try, hit an inside position at an early stage of the race. The betting companies do not believe in the Canadian horse, but Canada has been successful in the Elite race before. Billyjojimbob won this race 30 years ago.
- Click Bait – Cantab Hall – Stefan Melander – Ulf Ohlsson – Sverige
Click Bait secured its place in the race by winning the $ 80,000 Prince Daniel’s race last Saturday. One of the fastest leavers in the game, at least in Europe, with a little luck with the journey, the 6-year-old can reach the final.
- Vernissage Grif – Varenne – Alessandro Gocciadoro – Italien
Powerful chestnut, bred and owned in Italy, trained and driven by the total dominant Gocciadoro of Italian harness. Vernissage Grif enters the Elite race after a weak performance at least at Solvalla, but if he competes at his highest level, he can beat everyone.
- Etonnant – Timoko – Richard Westerink – Anthony Barrier – France
Richard Westerink really knows how to win the Elite Race. Etonnant’s father Timoko took two trophies in the race (2014 and 2017) with Westerink as coach. In Etonnant, the Dutch coach has a super trotter who has shown great abilities not only in the longer races in France, but also in the mile race Criterium de Vitesse in Cagnes-sur-Mer. However, there may be an obstacle for him. Etonnant is not so keen on starting behind the gate and how will he succeed in performing on a 5/8 mile course?
- Don Fanucci Zet – Hard Livin – Daniel Redén – Örjan Kihlström – Sweden
Just like in 2021, Don Fanucci Zet begins his elimination from post 8 behind the gate and last year he eventually won the final. This home-bred 6-year-old has looked brilliant in his starts in 2022, but the post will open up for a spectacular performance to reach the final.
ELITLOPPET HEAT 2
Horse – Father – Trainer – Driver
- Snowstorm Hannover – Muscle Massive – Daniel Redén – Magnus A Djuse – Sweden
The snowstorm Hannover has reached new levels since he was moved from Stefan Melander to Daniel Redén. Melander was Redén’s employer for 13 years before Stall Zet became the new manager and now the two coaches can sit back and enjoy a joint participant in the prestigious mile race. Fun facts: Redén was a 19-year-old boy and caretaker of Stefan Melander’s 1999 Elite Race Challenger Lucky Po.
- Amiral As – Ready Cash – Reijo Liljendahl – Per Lennartsson – Sweden
Six-year-old Admiral As was sold as a yearling in Italy and has always had some kind of mythical reputation. The hunger to win surrounds Admiral A’s essence and even though he now faces his toughest task so far in his life. He can not be counted as a serious challenger. Per Lennartsson replaces in the bike since Örjan Kihlström chose to drive Don Fanucci Zet.
- Who’s Who – Maharajah – Pasi Aikio – Åke Svanstedt – Sweden
Åke Svanstedt enters the Elite Race and gains confidence behind one of the race’s hottest horses this year. Who’s Who has lined up some really big trophies during his career and comes from a pretty sure win in the Paralympic trot. Svanstedt will be very welcomed by the audience at Solvalla, that is for sure and he can win the Elite Race this year.
- Hail Mary – Googoo Gaagaa – Daniel Redén – Erik Adielsson – Sverige
The much talked about move from Robert Bergh to Daniel Redén in the autumn of 2021 put sparks in the Swedish harness sports forum and Hail Mary has only made a start for her new coach before the Elite Race. Through an impressive first victory, Hail Mary has reached the level of becoming the first choice in the Elite Race this year. Interesting start, interesting horse.
- Night Brodde – Up And Quick – Conrad Lugauer – Sweden
Night Brodde was the fans’ choice last week and he took the last place in the Elite Race 2022. Conrad Lugauer’s trotter was a strong bronze medalist in the Paralympic trot and his ability to leave quickly can be a valuable factor for him.
- Mister F.Daag – Conway Hall – Paul Hagoort – Robin Bakker – Belgium
Seven-year-old Mister F.Daag has been surrounded by a good reputation ever since he entered the track in his first years and when he won the Copenhagen Cup two weeks ago, the German-born trotter took a step closer to the Elite race. The Dutch duo Robin Bakker and Paul Hagoort are competitive in principle everywhere they participate.
- Vivid Wise As – Yankee Glide – Alessandro Gociadoro – Matthieu Abrivard – Italien
Last year’s second in the Elite Race has been a success in France during the winter and we know that Solvalla’s conditions suit him well. French top driver Matthieu Abrivard gets along well with the horse and Vivid Wise As must be taken seriously even from a bad post.
- Extreme – Chocolatier – Steen Juul – Björn Goop – Danmark
Extreme is scratched.