The big test of strength during the Elitlopp weekend, Harper Hanover's race over three laps went to the surprise Eelis with home address Solvalla through the trainer Timo Nurmos, but for the day driven by Finnish super talent Olli Koivonen.
Eelis was only one of six horses that started from the basic distance but nevertheless did not actually appear in the victory battle until the middle of the run-up.
- The horse felt good then, but when I saw how Handsome Brad took over, I thought that maybe we can be second...but the feeling now, in the winner's circle, it's probably the best a person can, Olli said in the interview after the race.
- I've won the Finnish championship once - but this is ten times bigger. An even greater honor was to drive for Timo - who in my eyes is perhaps the best coach in Europe, at least among the top three.
In fact, Olli and everyone else could hear the cheers from the Finnish part of the crowd - 2,150 people came on a specially chartered boat from Turku today - because in the middle of the race it became clear that Finland had won the semi-final of the Hockey World Cup...and those cheers were heard all over Solvalla!
The victory was worth SEK 900,000 and was not at all expected. The owner was almost taken aback just by seeing his horse in the starting list.
- I was actually wondering why Timo, who is not always easy to understand, had even entered this race...
Tomorrow, Sunday, the Elitloppet will be run with the participation of 16 of the world's best horses in the fight for the first prize of three million crowns.
Press release from Solvalla May 25
Photo: Solvalla
