It was Swedish and Solvalla in Elitloppet when Don Fanucci Zet and Örjan Kihlström sprinted to victory in the fastest final time ever: 1.08,9a/1.609 meters.
In the trial, Don Fanucci Zet did not prevail over leading Italian Vivid Wise As, but in the final, Don Fanucci Zet had a better start and had a more comfortable ride to the finish.
- "It feels absolutely fantastic. We've had this in our sights for so long and to succeed is absolutely wonderful," said coach Daniel Redén after the triumph.
Last year, the stable's Propulsion was the first to finish in Elitloppet, but when it later turned out that the horse had been nerve-cut in the USA before being imported to Sweden, he was stripped of his place.
Now came the revenge for Daniel Redén, for driver Örjan Kihlström and attendant Ellinor Wennebring.
And experienced Örjan Kihlström, who took his third Elitlopp victory, was really taken after the win.
- Considering the history from last year, it feels incredibly big. Especially for the stable, for those who have worked with the horse in everyday life. Then Don Fanucci Zet is a fantastic horse, there are not many Swedish-born five-year-olds who can take the step up and win the Elitloppet, Kihlström said.
Don Fanucci Zet, named after a character in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, comes from relatively humble beginnings, with his mother Kissed By the West in particular having a special history.
- It was a project. She is actually a walker and I bought her as a fun thing, but we never even got down to competition pace in training and then we let her go to breeding. To be honest, Don Fanucci Zet didn't have an easy time initially either. But how this horse has developed!" said Daniel Redén.
Italian Vivid Wise As took second place for Alessandro Gocciadoro and third in Elitloppet was Jerry Riordan-trained Gareth Boko with Elitlopp debutant Mats Djuse in the sulky.
- "Mats drove two great races, he did every detail of the races perfectly and that gave us a third place. That's great," said Jerry Riordan.
The first prize in Elitloppet was SEK 3,000,000.
Text: Ola Lernå
