Elitloppet field taking final shape
by Thomas Hedlund
Elitloppet is beginning to take its final form.
Saturday’s (May 23) $80,000 Prins Daniels Lopp at Gävletravet, part of the V85 card, had in previous years served as a direct qualifier to Elitloppet. This year, however, the rules were changed and the race instead became part of the E-series, where horses accumulated points in an effort to reach Solvalla’s great race next Sunday (May 31).
Before Saturday’s contest it was announced that Norwegian star Charron (Code Bon), trained by Geir Vegard Gundersen, had received an invitation from Solvalla. At the same time, Finnish contender Massimo Hoist withdrew from Elitloppet due to poor blood values.
That left two spots still open heading into Saturday, and there was virtually a guarantee that the winner of Prins Daniels Lopp would receive one of Solvalla’s coveted pink invitations.
That ticket was earned by Mellby Jinx (Ready Cash), trained and driven by Daniel Wäjersten, after a gritty first-over performance outside the leader Powwow.
Whether Mellby Jinx will actually take part in Elitloppet, however, remains uncertain.
“Our plan before the race was that we would not participate in Elitloppet this year,” Wäjersten said of Mellby Jinx, who won an Elitloppet elimination heat last year. “Three races within eight days would be tough.”
That means Solvalla racing director Ola Lernå is expected to keep the final two invitations open until the draw ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Swedish time (11:30 a.m. ET).
14 OF THE 16 ELITLOPPET STARTERS ARE NOW CONFIRMED:
A Fair Day (Maharajah) — Sweden
Allegiant (Tactical Landing) — Sweden
Borups Victory (Googoo Gaagaa) — Sweden
Charron (Code Bon) — Norway
Diva Ek (Trixton) — Italy
Don Fanucci Zet (Hard Livin) — Sweden
Dream Mine (Maharajah) — Sweden
Gio Cash (Victor Gio) — Netherlands
Go On Boy (Password) — France
Idao de Tillard (Severino) — France
Inexess Bleu (Vittel de Brevol) — France
Jabalpur (Booster Winner) — France
Jobspost (Readly Express) — Sweden
Keep Going (Follow You) — France
MAHARAJAH DOMINATES KUOPIO STAKES
Super sire Maharajah stamped his authority all over this year’s $75,000 Kuopio Stakes in Kuopio on Saturday (May 23), producing a remarkable sweep of the trifecta. Piccolo Cocktail (Maharajah—Cocktail Princess) had narrowly lost his elimination heat to Magnitude, but turned the tables emphatically in the final.
Racing from third-over, Piccolo Cocktail unleashed a powerful stretch kick to score in 1:55 flat over the mile.
Magnitude (Maharajah) finished second after a tough first-over trip in the same time, while Arctic Fiona (Maharajah) held third from the lead in 1:55.2. The victory was the ninth in 35 starts for the 4-year-old trained by Timo Korvenheimo. Earlier in his career, Piccolo Cocktail captured the $70,000 Jokimaa Jackpot and also finished as a runner-up in both the Finnish Derby and Breeders Crown finals.
