Dexter Dunn to drive in Elitloppet

by Thomas Hedlund

It was confirmed on Friday (May 15) that Gio Cash (Victor Gio), trained by Daniel Wäjersten, has secured a place in this year’s Elitloppet at Solvalla on May 31.

And the Swedish-trained, German-bred, Dutch-owned trotter will be paired with a New Zealand-born driver currently dominating the American scene: Dexter Dunn.

Wäjersten already has Borups Victory (Googoo Gaagaa) in Elitloppet field, leaving Dunn with the opportunity behind Gio Cash.

Daniel Redén has also finalized the driving assignments for his two Elitloppet contenders. Örjan Kihlström will partner 5-year-old mare Allegiant (Tactical Landing), while Frenchman Paul-Philippe Ploquin reunites with Don Fanucci Zet (Hard Livin). That duo finished second behind Go On Boy in last year’s Elitloppet.

STUNNING UPSET IN TINGSRYD MILE

Saturday’s (May 16) mile race at Tingsryd Racetrack — the sixth E-series qualifier — turned into a spectacular contest, even though the winner will not be heading to Elitloppet.

Two already invited Elitloppet horses lined up: Jobspost and A Fair Day. Yet the spotlight instead fell on a highly unexpected winner.

Lutfi Kolgjini’s 7-year-old Barack Face (Ready Cash) had effectively been retired from racing and pointed toward stud duty when he suddenly resurfaced in an overnight earlier this spring. After a modest fourth-place comeback effort, the connections aimed at Tingsryd and the $44,000 Milemästaren. There, Barack Face stormed past A Fair Day, Jobspost, and Double Deceiver over the long stretch to score in 1:53.3.

A top-class horse has clearly returned to the elite ranks — but Kolgjini is not interested in the Elitloppet just yet.

“The horse isn’t ready,” Kolgjini said after the victory. “He’s only been training for three months, and right now I’m just happy he gets to show how talented he really is.”

KEEP GOING RECEIVES ELITLOPPET INVITATION

Half an hour later, invitation number 13 to Elitloppet was officially announced. Ola Lernå, racing director at Solvalla, welcomed French 6-year-old Keep Going (Follow You) to Stockholm. The handsome stallion, trained by Mathieu Mottier, has long been considered one of the more intriguing horses in Europe by the author of this column, and his participation adds yet another fascinating layer to this year’s Elitloppet.

HORSES IN ELITLOPPET 2026

A Fair Day — Sweden (invited)

Allegiant — Sweden (invited)

Borups Victory — Sweden (invited)

Diva Ek — Italy (won Finlandia-Ajo)

Don Fanucci Zet — Sweden (not yet invited, but will win the E-series)

Dream Mine — Sweden (invited)

Gio Cash – Netherlands (invited)

Go On Boy — France (invited)

Idao de Tillard — France (invited)

Inexess Bleu — France (invited)

Jabalpur — France (invited)

Jobspost — Sweden (invited)

Keep Going — France (invited)

Massimo Hoist — Finland (invited)