A Norwegian title defender, a Finnish newcomer and a fast Swedish mare take the first three places.
Odd Herakles, Stallone and Stjärnblomster are ready for Elitkampen 2022 at Solvalla.
Odd Heracles
It could be the third straight win for Odd Herakles during the Elitlopp weekend. Both in 2020 and 2021 he has won the Elitkampen and the twelve-year-old stallion has a long list of victories in Norway, Sweden and Finland - where the biggest prize check is from the win in Nordic King in Finnish Härmä last year with 50,000 euros in first prize. He has won 65 races so far in his career and is now back to defend his title.
- Odd Herakles is a fantastic cold-blood who has won the Elitkampen the last two years in impressive fashion. He has a lovely charisma and is many people's favorite for the victory, says Solvalla's sports manager Anders Malmrot.
Facts about Odd Heracles
Age: 12 years
Sex: Stallion
Father: Moe Odin
Mother: Gaupen Stjerna
Starts/Result: 136 (65-15-15)
Earned: SEK 10 924 817
Record: 1.18,4 autostart (1609m)
Owner: Odd Paulsen & Linda C. The grinders
Coach: Odd Paulsen
Attendant: Josefine Eilertsen
Breeder: Odd Team AS
Nationality: Norwegian
Stallone
Finnish Stallone will be a new acquaintance for the Elitlopp audience as it is the first time the beautiful colt comes to Sweden. The biggest victory of his career is from last year when he won in Finnish Ylivieska with 13,000 euros in first prize and the seven-year-old gelding has taken the step straight up to the elite since he started competing in 2019. In 37 starts, there have been ten wins and now the biggest task of his career so far awaits when he comes to Solvalla and Elitkampen.
- Stallone has previously beaten Parvelan Retu outright and showed top form in his last start. He is both strong and fast and a very interesting Finnish horse, says Solvalla's sports manager Anders Malmrot.
Facts Stallone
Age: 7 years
Sex: Gelding
Father: Frans
Mother: Stellanoora
Starts/Results: 37 (10-13-5)
Earned: 196 550 euros
Record: 1.20,6 autostart (1600m)
Owner: Stall Noora
Coach: Ossi Nurmonen
Nurse: Katariina Nurmonen
Breeder: Stall Noora
Nationality: Finnish
Starflowers
Stjärnblomster is in top form and boasts ten straight victories. She won the Derbystoet in Östersund in 2018 and in 2021 she won the Sto-SM at Bollnästravet, which are the two biggest wins of her career so far. Then against the best mares in the country, but she won, for example, Steggbest Minne in Skellefteå against the boys over sprinter distance last year and now she will take on the Nordic elite when it will be her debut in Elitkampen at Solvalla.
- Stjärnblomster is Sweden's best mare, boasting ten consecutive victories. Her speed is exceptional and she moves like a ballerina. If she gets her back race, no one is safe, says Solvalla's sports manager Anders Malmrot.
Facts Starflowers
Age: 8 years
Gender: Sto
Father: B.W.Modde
Mother: Järvsö Blomster
Starts/Result: 33 (19-4-2)
Earned: SEK 2 046 443
Record: 1.23,0 (2180m)
Owner: Stall Rabatt
Coach: Jan-Olov Persson
Attendant: Jenny Pettersson
Breeder: Manapå HB, and others
Nationality: Swedish
In Elitkampen, ten Nordic cold-blooded horses start, six of which are invited by Solvalla. Elitkampen will be decided on the Sunday of the Elitlopp weekend May 27-29, 2022 at Solvalla and the winner will receive one million SEK.
