Seinäjoki Race opens Finnish elite season

by Thomas Hedlund

On Saturday (April 25), Finland kicks off the major stakes season for the older elite with the $120,000 Seinäjoki Race at Seinäjoki Racetrack.

The past two editions of the race have been won by Borups Victory (Googoo Gaagaa) and Daniel Wäjersten. This year, however, the star faces a tougher task, drawing a second-row post for his seasonal debut.

The race is contested over 2,100 meters, and despite the tricky starting position, Borups Victory is still expected to go off as the favorite.

SEINÄJOKI RACE 2026

PP — Horse (Sire) — Driver — Trainer

1. Kuiper (Face Time Bourbon) — Mats E. Djuse — Daniel Wäjersten

2. Star Photo (Classic Photo) — Jukka Torvinen — Matias Salo

3. Massimo Hoist (Muscle Hill) — Hannu Torvinen — Jukka Hakkarainen

4. Chestnut (Jocose) — Sandra Eriksson — Daniel Redén

5. Olly Håleryd (Trixton) — Marcus Lilius — Daniel Redén

6. Need’em (Propulsion) — Iikka Nurmonen — Miika Tenhunen

7. Karat River (Muscle Hill) — Olli Koivunen — Johan Untersteiner

8. Dancer Brodde (Bold Eagle) — Johan Untersteiner

9. Combat Fighter (From Above) — Santtu Raitala — Antti Ojanperä

10. Borups Victory (Googoo Gaagaa) — Daniel Wäjersten

DON FANUCCI ZET TOYS WITH FIELD IN NUNCIO’S RACE

“Nothing too serious today,” said Örjan Kihlström after Daniel Redén’s Don Fanucci Zet (Hard Livin) more or less toyed with the field in the $20,000 Nuncio’s Race, the third leg of the E-series on the road to Elitloppet. The winning time was a sharp 1:54.3 mile rate over 2,140 meters, and while it may not have been a hard test, the final quarter in :27 suggests that the 10-year-old is more than ready for what could be his sixth consecutive Elitloppet appearance.

Kihlström sent his horse to the lead early, and as the five rivals lined up along the rail, Robin Bakker eventually made a move first-over with Hades de Vandel, leaving second favorite Gio Cash with a covered trip in the second-over position.

In the end, none of it mattered. Don Fanucci Zet dictated the pace and drew away effortlessly, securing his second straight win in the E-series, where the top two point earners qualify for Elitloppet 2026.

The opening leg was won by Diva Ek and Alessandro Gocciadoro, who currently sit second in the standings.

E-SERIES STANDINGS AFTER THREE LEGS

Don Fanucci Zet — 30 points

Diva Ek — 15 points

Mellby Jinx — 8 points

Kuiper — 8 points

Parveny — 8 points