The picture-perfect fox appears in Elitloppet for the second year in a row.
Vernissage Grif is horse twelve to be finished for the last Sunday in May.
- It is a great honor to come to Solvalla with our horse and I think Vernissage Grif is in top form, which everyone could see at his victory in the Lotterian last time, says trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro
Vernissage Grif was knocked out of the 2022 Elitlopps attempt - but after his second straight win in the Gran Premio Lotteria at home in Italy, where he crushed his competitors in a great winning time of 1.09,6 over sprint distance - he now gets a new chance.
Vernissage Grif has celebrated success on Swedish soil before, winning Jämtland's Grand Prix, both in 2021 and 2022, and Årjäng's Great Sprinter Race in 2021.
The pink ticket for Vernissage Grif means that Italian star coach Alessandro Gocciadoro has two participants in this year's edition as the Vivid Wise Aces are already invited.
Solvalla's sports director Anders Malmrot first told the news to the racetrack audience on Wednesday in connection with Solvalla's evening races.
- Vernissage Grif was incredibly good at the Lotteria victory and if he has a good day, no one is safe, says Anders Malmrot.
There are now only four places left for Elitloppet 2023 and the starting field will be finalized on Sunday 21 May.
Facts Vernissage Grif
Age: 9 years
Sex: Stallion
Father: Varenne
Mother: Dalia Grif
Start/Result: 119 (39-18-10)
Earned: EUR 1 323 519
Record: 1.09,2 autostart (1609m)
Owner: Riccio Gennaro
Coach: Alessandro Gocciadoro
Attendant: Andres Boldura
Breeder: Allevamento il Grifone SRL
Nationality: Italian
Elitloppet is the main attraction during the Elitlopp weekend, which will be held at Solvalla in Stockholm on May 26-28, 2023. Elitloppet is an invitational race where 16 horses compete in two different trials with eight horses in each. The top four in each trial meet in a final where the winner receives five million SEK.
Invited horses for Elitloppet 2023: San Moteur (Sweden), Etonnant (France), Vivid Wise As (Italy), Just Believe (Australia), Önas Prince (Sweden), Go On Boy (France), Don Fanucci Zet (Sweden), Hohneck (France), Stoletheshow (Sweden), Hail Mary (Sweden), Brother Bill (Sweden), Vernissage Grif (Italy),
