A weekend of top races across Europe made the Elitlopps weekend grow. Both in terms of number of horses and performances.
- Mellby Jinx took a well-deserved pink ticket, a lovely horse that has gone all the way from the young horse races to Group 1 win as an older horse, says Solvalla's Elitlopp manager Anders Malmrot.
Mellby Jinx secured his place in the Elitloppet by winning Finlandia Ajo in 1.09,9. He will be Daniel Wäjersten's second entry on the last Sunday in May at Solvalla.
The Paralympic race went to a top fine Borups Victory in 1.10,0, which was a tangent of the running record. Likewise Elitloppsklara A Fair Day ran strongly in fifth.
- But also the runner-up San Moteur was very pleasing to see, it went extremely fast through the last turn. San Moteur held it together brilliantly, says Malmrot.
In Naples Alessandro Gocciadoro took home the Lottery race with Always Ek, who already last year was second in the Sweden Cup, maybe it's his turn this year to be Gocciadoro's contribution in Elitloppet. Always Ek was ridden in the Lottery by Solvallas champion Magnus A Djuse.
The favorite for Elitloppet, Francesco Zet, repeated in Rättvik last Friday on the course record 1.09,4a/1.640 meters. Tonight, Canadian entry Logan Park makes the last start before departure when he appears at Woodbine with his Elitlopp driver Doug McNair.
Another exciting winner this weekend was Norwegian Charron who won the Lyon Grand Prix from the dead in 1.12,2a/2.640 meters. In France, Philippe Allaires Koctel du Dain set a new record in the Prix Albert Demarq at Vincennes when he won in 1.11,7/2.850 meters.
- Philippe Allaire also has the Elitlopp winner from 2023 Hohneck who makes an exciting start on Saturday and then I will have a good chat with Allaire. From Vincennes I also brought Cobra Killer Gar who won in 1.09,4 over full distance. That performance was very impressive! Cobra Killer Gar is an Italian-born son of Swedish Readly Express who is trained in France by Danish Erik Bondo.
When will the next invitation be issued?
- In the Meadow Roads race on Wednesday, a Elitlopp ticket is in the pot. A further horse will then be invited on Saturday.
In Finland, a place in the Harper Hanover race was also at stake. It went to Markku Nieminen's nine-year-old Goeland d'Haufor. Goeland d'Haufour earned over five million on French soil and was third in the Seinäjoki Grand Prix behind Borups Victory before the victory at Vermo.
In addition, Stallone and Santtu Raitala were the strongest of the cold-blooded horses in Erkon Pookali after V.G.Voitto, undefeated in ten starts, had galloped. The winning time for Stallone was 1.22,4a/2.140 meters.
- Finland has a total of three places in Elitkampen. Stallone was a good winner, but also V.G.Voitto is of course welcome if they don't find any faults on the horse, says Anders Malmrot.
Finally, we note that Speedracen was also replenished at Gävletravet on Friday when Jan-Olov Persson's Brenne Rön won the selection for cold blood, while shimmering gold Jaguar Dream has a place available among the warm blood. Trainer is Daniel Redén.
Invited Elitloppet 2025
ETTONANT - Richard Westerink - France
GO ON BOY - Romain Derieux - France
FRANCESCO ZET - Daniel Redén - Sweden
BORUPS VICTORY - Daniel Wäjersten - Sweden
A FAIR DAY - Elisabeth Almheden - Sweden
MELLBY KNEKT - Timo Nurmos - Sweden
MELLBY JINX - Daniel Wäjersten - Sweden
LOGAN PARK - Robert Fellows - Canada
THE LOCOMOTIVE - Brad Hewitt - Australia
