The Finnish eight-year-old loves the lead - a position that was the recipe for victory also on Saturday in the Paralympic final at Åby. The win means that Elian Web is now the second horse to finish the Elitloppet and the last Sunday in May.
- He has been there before, but I would say that he is better than ever now, says Solvalla's sports director Anders Malmrot.
The apple of Katja Melkko's eye has charmed harness racing fans with several victories in STL, defeating Propulsion himself at Bergsåker at the beginning of the year - a victory that was then followed up with the final win in Bulwark's race at Solvalla. The recipe for victory? The lead.
It's a position Elian Web loves - he's still unbeaten in the lead on Swedish soil and on Saturday he took the biggest win of his life so far when the Paralympic final was tracked from start to finish. Elian Web got off to his usual fast start and took an early lead, setting the pace for the first lap and then holding off the rest of the competitors in an exciting final battle. The first prize was SEK 1 million, with a winning time of 1.12,2 over the middle distance, and in total it was the horse's 26th career victory.
- With his speed and running ability he really belongs in Elitloppet and I am very happy for Katja Melkko that she has a horse in Elitloppet, says Anders Malmrot.
Elian Web is the second horse to be ready for the Elitloppet in 2020 and the last Sunday in May. The now Solvalla-trained eight-year-old will be making his second appearance in the big race as he also took part in 2017 - but finished unplaced after being drawn to lane eight in his trial.
Facts about Elian Web
Age: 8 years
Sex: Gelding
Father: Like A Prayer
Mother: E.L.Dolly
Starter/Result: 64 (26-10-10)
Earned: SEK 7 756 367
Record: 1.09,9 autostart (1640m)
Owner: Sauli Meriläinen
Trainer: Katja Melkko
Nurse: Katja Melkko
Breeder: West Breeding Oy
Nationality: Finnish
Elitloppet is the main attraction during the Elitlopp weekend, which will be held at Solvalla in Stockholm on May 29-31, 2020. 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 three million SEK.
Invited horses for Elitloppet 2020: Vivid Wise As (Italy), Elian Web (Finland),
For more information contact Anders Malmrot, Sports Director Solvalla, on +46 70 636 00 58
