by Thomas Hedlund

Two new names have been introduced for the 2022 Elitloppet at Solvalla. Last year’s runner up, Vivid Wise As (Yankee Glide), bred in Italy and trained by Italian top trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro, will get his chance for revenge in Stockholm on May 29 as he received an invitation from Solvalla on Saturday (March 26) afternoon.

Before that, Criterium de Vitesse winner Etonnant (Timoko), trained by Richard Westerink in France, was invited to this year’s Elitloppet. Etonnant has shown great abilities over all kinds of distances as he claimed the 4,000 meter-race Prix de Paris in 2021 and a mile race, the Criterium de Vitesse, in Cagnes-sur-Mer this year.

Title defender in Elitloppet, Don Fanucci Zet (Hard Livin) was the first horse that got an invitation for the big mile race at Solvalla this year.

CANADIAN ELEMENT IN ELITLOPPET 2022?

It’s not impossible that Solvalla and the Elitloppet will get acquainted with a Canadian horse this year. Solvalla’s sport’s general Anders Malmrot has contacted connections to Perfetto, two-time O’Brien Award winner regarding an eventual trip overseas in May.

”Perfetto is an interesting horse for me this year and he was on my list of conceivable trotters already last year. Contact have been made between Solvalla and the connections of the horse and they are interested in coming to Solvalla. It would be a great opportunity for Canadian harness racing to present a competitive horse in Sweden and I really hope that Perfetto races well in the next races to come in Canada,” Malmrot told HRU.

Perfetto, a 7-year-old son of Majestic Son, trained and driven by Dagfin Henriksen, could well be the horse representing North America at Solvalla this year.

AMPIA MEDE SM BEST IN PARIS

The French winter meeting recently ended, but Paris track Vincennes has opened its gates again for the spring and there will be some interesting race cards coming ahead of the French harness racing fans.

Fabrice Souloy trained Ampia Mede Sm (Ganymede) for example, is one of the more exciting trotters trained in France. She claimed the $98,875 Prix du Bois de Vincennes on Saturday (March 26) afternoon as she started 25 meters ahead of top gelding Cleangame. Ampia Mede Sm, bred in Italy, has delivered several top performances on France soil since she arrived in Souloy’s barn and in Saturday’s race she came home in a mile rate of 1:57.2 over 1.7 miles.

STOLETHESHOW STOLE THE SHOW

The V75 finals were on the agenda when Solvalla raced Saturday (March 26) and in the $63,700 C.Th. Ericssons Memorial for elite trotters, Frode Hamre-trained Stoletheshow (Dream Vacation) took an impressive triumph from the lead for driver Björn Goop.

Who’s Who was the heavy favorite in the 2,140 meter race, but when Stoletheshow hit the lead after a quarter of a mile, while Who’s Who was placed in third over, Goop literally stole the show and the duo never gave the opponents a chance to challenge for the win.

Stoletheshow noted a mile rate of 1:55.2 and the 7-year-old colt can very well be a serious factor when the last spots for Elitloppet will be picked.