Philippe Allaire is one of the world's best harness racing trainers and the man behind some of the world's best horses. But after his debut in the Elitloppet in 1980, he has waited 43 years.
In Hohneck, the Frenchman finally had the right horse - who won the Elitloppet at Solvalla and five million kronor.
Philippe Allaire, a gentleman who likes to visit Sweden and Solvalla, but he has refused Elitloppet with his top horses over the years.
- I have been waiting for the right horse. Hohneck was the right one, he likes the sprint distance and this track," said Philippe Allaire who was actually the loan driver behind Hillion Brioullard in 1980, the year Ideal du Gazeau won the Elitloppet.
Hohneck finished second in his attempt behind the favorite San Moteur, but in the final of the Elitloppet it was the reverse order at the finish. Hohneck finished in insane pace to land in 1.08,9a/1.609 meters, which equaled the fastest winning time in the Elitloppet final.
- "I messed up a bit in the trial when I chose to run with shoes. In the final, Hohneck went barefoot and then he got better action and simply became faster in the legs, continued Allaire who received the Stig H Johansson Cup.
In the sulky was the Italian Gabriele Gelormini, who is based in France and who took the first victory in Elitloppet in the seventh attempt.
- It's a dream, so fantastic! Philippe Allaire had prepared Hohneck with millimeter precision and made it easy for me," said Gelormini.
The Swedish favorite San Moteur had to go on the outside of Hohneck all the way and fell with the flag at the top.
- I was very happy with my horse. He ran a great race, but Hohneck was simply too good today. Now San Moteur will be breeding for a while and we will see when we are back in the hot air again, said Björn Goop.
Third place was also taken by a French horse in the form of Go On Boy and Romain Derieux.
Two more million-dollar races were held at Solvalla in front of a large audience of 19,039 people. Home trainer Reijo Liljendahl won the Breeders Course final for three-year-old horses with Epsom As, who was ridden by Ulf Ohlsson.
The world's biggest cold-blooded race went to Finland, but not to the favorite Parvelan Retu who had to settle for third place after galloping - winning leader Evartti and Santu Raitala kept away from the lead.
