Borups Victory back in the winner’s circle
by Thomas Hedlund
Daniel Wäjersten’s Borups Victory (Googoo Gaagaa) was one of the more intriguing contenders heading into the Prix d’Amérique at Vincennes this past winter. However, in the final weeks leading up to the race it became clear that something wasn’t quite right, and he never made it to the big stage in Paris.
After three appearances at Vincennes, Borups Victory returned to Sweden, and on Saturday (April 25) it was time for his seasonal debut — fittingly in a race that holds special significance for both horse and trainer.
The $120,000 Seinäjoki Race over 2,100 meters had been won by Borups Victory two years in a row prior to this edition, but a second-row draw and a race-fit Finnish Elitloppet contender in Massimo Hoist stood in the way of a third straight victory.
Settled fourth-over, Wäjersten followed cover three-wide down the backstretch as Dancer Brodde folded from the lead with 600 meters to go. At that point, stablemate Kuiper took over in front, with Massimo Hoist looming in pursuit.
Massimo Hoist flattened out early in the stretch, and then it played out the way it so often does in the Seinäjoki. Borups Victory fanned five-wide off the final turn and unleashed a superior late kick, drawing clear to score his third consecutive win in the race — this time in a 1:57.1 mile rate over a slushy track. Race replay here.
Combat Fighter and Need’em completed the trifecta.
PARALYMPIATRAVET PICTURE TAKING SHAPE
Borups Victory is also the defending champion of the $300,000 Paralympiatravet at Åby on May 9, and being already qualified allowed Wäjersten to prep in Finland rather than go through the Swedish eliminations.
The third qualifier for the Paralympiatravet took place in Örebro on Saturday, and it went to a proven big-race performer who clearly belongs at this level. The pre-race talk centered around Get A Wish, making his debut for Robert Bergh after leaving Åke Svanstedt, along with Bicc’s Tobee and Kentucky River (Father Patrick).
When the first two made early breaks, the path was cleared for Kentucky River, trained by Daniel Redén. He didn’t even need to be fully extended, winning with plenty left in the tank in a 1:55.2 mile rate over 2,140 meters. Behind him, both Get A Wish and Bicc’s Tobee rebounded with strong efforts to finish second and third.
CONFIRMED STARTERS FOR PARALYMPIATRAVET (SO FAR)
Önas Prince
H.C.’s Crazy Horse
Borups Victory
Kentucky River
Charron (wild card)
Francesco Zet (wild card)
Harley Gema (wild card)
Daim Brodda (wild card)
Two spots remain to complete the field.
FINLANDIA-AJO: ELITLOPPET TICKET ON THE LINE
Attention now turns to Finland, where an Elitloppet berth is up for grabs in the $220,000 Finlandia-Ajo at Vermo Racetrack on May 10, contested over the mile.
Invited horses (so far):
Combat Fighter — Antti Ojanperä
High On Pepper — Katja Melkko
Massimo Hoist — Jukka Hakkarainen
Diva Ek — Alessandro Gocciadoro
Keep Asking — Daniel Redén
Mellby Knekt — Timo Nurmos
Betting Pacer — Björn Goop
HALF THE FIELD SET FOR ELITLOPPET 2026
On Saturday evening (April 25), Ola Lernå revealed the eighth invited horse to the 2026 edition of the Elitloppet at Solvalla — and the French dominance continues.
Alongside already invited stars Go On Boy, Idao de Tillard, and Inexess Bleu, it is now confirmed that the Alain Chavatte-trained world record holder Jabalpur (Booster Winner) will make the trip to Stockholm.
That brings the total to eight confirmed starters out of 16, meaning half the field is now set for one of the sport’s biggest sprint events.
INVITED HORSES — ELITLOPPET 2026
A Fair Day (Maharajah) — Sweden
Allegiant (Tactical Landing) — Sweden
Go On Boy (Password) — France
Idao de Tillard (Severino) — France
Inexess Bleu (Vittel de Brevol) — France
Jabalpur (Booster Winner) — France
Jobspost (Readly Express) — Sweden
Massimo Hoist (Muscle Hill) — Finland
