Loaded for Sunday’s Elitloppet
by Thomas Hedlund
Sixteen horses will become eight when the final of the $1,000,000 Elitloppet is decided at Solvalla on Sunday afternoon (May 31).
As always, the format consists of two eliminations with eight horses in each, where the top four advance to the final. And this year, most signs point toward another French victory — potentially the fifth in a row. The French squad looks exceptionally strong this year.
Idao de Tillard (Severino), regarded by many as the best trotter in the world, makes his second attempt at the Elitlopp. Thierry Duvaldestin’s star tried Solvalla during this same weekend two years ago, but was forced into a break shortly after the start and therefore missed the final altogether.
That Idao de Tillard will be at absolute peak condition on Sunday seems unlikely. The horse suffered severe colic during the winter and underwent abdominal surgery. The fact that he returned to racing as quickly as he did is close to miraculous.
Defending champion Go On Boy (Password) has not generated quite as much buzz this year. Romain Derieux’s 10-year-old has not exactly piled up victories lately, but when looking closely at his winter and spring campaign, his form hardly appears worse than it was before last year’s Elitlopp triumph.
Then there is Inexess Bleu (Vittel de Brevol), the gelding barred from many of France’s biggest races precisely because he is a gelding.
Laurent-Claude Abrivard’s stable star won the final of the UET Elite Circuit final at Solvalla last fall, although the longer trip suited him better than Sunday’s assignment. The 1,609-meter distance is unusual territory for Inexess Bleu, but he cannot be dismissed. His competitive attitude is extraordinary and the Elitlopp has been a major target for quite some time.
Jabalpur (Booster Winner) enters Sunday’s races as something of an outsider at Solvalla. He has shown very little top form lately, but everyone knows how dangerous he can be when he is at his very best.
Mathieu Mottier’s Keep Going (Follow You) was one of the very best horses of the French K-generation during his younger years, and his third-place finish behind Idao de Tillard and Go On Boy in the Prix de l’Atlantique in April was a major positive. Keep Going’s gait should fit Solvalla’s 1,000-meter oval perfectly and he is an extremely versatile horse.
That covers the French team. What about the challengers?
Well, the fact is that Dexter Dunn sits behind one of the early threats to the French domination. He will drive Gio Cash (Victor Gio), trained by Daniel Wäjersten, who showed his talent in the Yonkers International Trot last fall, where he was trapped with plenty left in the pocket behind the leader. Gio Cash’s form curve is pointing straight upward. Dunn’s drive will most likely be favored to capture the second Elitlopp elimination.
Dream Mine (Maharajah) will face the world elite for the very first time and the Swedish and European Derby winner will truly have to earn his oats this time around. Post 6 behind the gate looks like a demanding obstacle for him and he may need some racing luck to advance to the final.
Don Fanucci Zet (Hard Livin) will make his sixth consecutive appearance in the Elitlopp. He won the race as a 5-year-old in 2021 and finished second behind Go On Boy last year. Now, just like then, Daniel Redén has once again called upon French driver Paul-Philippe Ploquin.
Allegiant (Tactical Landing) is Redén’s other starter and it is fair to say that she, too, remains largely untested against this kind of opposition. The 5-year-old American mare has primarily raced against other mares and in her two prep races leading into the Elitlopp she has not been seriously challenged. A perfect draw behind the gate could very well be enough to carry her into the final.
The Elitloppet weekend at Solvalla offers much more than just one major race. Saturday’s $120,000 Sweden Cup will be contested through three elimination heats and a nine-horse final. Defending champion Double Deceiver (Cantab Hall) drew the rail in his elimination and may very well be the favorite to win the race again this year.
Harper Hanovers Lopp, with $100,000 to the winner, is contested over three laps and the French raiders are usually prominent in this marathon event as well. This year, however, favoritism lands on a Swedish 5-year-old with only nine career starts to his name. Timo Nurmos-trained Gaining Experience (Readly Express) starts 40 meters ahead of the powerful French stayers and, provided he stays flat, Gaining Experience will be extremely difficult to defeat.
Sunday also features two $200,000 Breeders Course finals for 3-year-olds and in the filly division Johan Untersteiner sends out unbeaten Cruiser (Calgary Games), who has won all five of her career starts.
Cruiser has quickly become one of Sweden’s hottest young horses — a highly attractive trotter who appears to possess talent far beyond the ordinary. The colts’ division, meanwhile, looks more wide open.
John D. Campbell will officially open the Elitlopp on Sunday, and for many harness racing fans the Canadian Hall of Fame driver’s victory with Mack Lobell in the 1988 Elitlopp remains the single greatest memory our sport has ever produced.
ELITLOPPET 2026
Elimination 1
PP — Horse (Sire) — Driver — Trainer
1. Luke The Spook (Greenshoe) — Adrian Kolgjini
2. Diva Ek (Trixton) — Alessandro Gocciadoro
3. Charron (Code Bon) — Magnus Teien Gundersen — Geir Vegard Gundersen
4. Don Fanucci Zet (Hard Livin) — Paul-Philippe Ploquin — Daniel Redén
5. Idao de Tillard (Severino) — Clément Duvaldestin — Thierry Duvaldestin
6. Dream Mine (Maharajah) — Mats E. Djuse — Jörgen Westholm
7. Keep Going (Follow You) — Mathieu Mottier
8. Borups Victory (Googoo Gaagaa) — Daniel Wäjersten
Elimination 2
PP — Horse (Sire) — Driver — Trainer
1. Gio Cash (Victor Gio) — Dexter Dunn — Daniel Wäjersten
2. Allegiant (Tactical Landing) — Örjan Kihlström — Daniel Redén
3. Jabalpur (Booster Winner) — Gabriele Gelormini — Alain Chavatte
4. Fine Manners (Chocolatier) — Magnus A Djuse — Mattias Djuse
5. Go On Boy (Password) — Romain Derieux
6. A Fair Day (Maharajah) — Oscar Ginman — Elisabeth Almheden
7. Inexess Bleu (Vittel de Brevol) — Alexandre Abrivard — Laurent-Claude Abrivard
8. Jobspost (Readly Express) — Björn Goop — Jörgen Westholm
BETTORS’ RANKING (ELITLOPPET WINNER)
Idao de Tillard
Inexess Bleu
Allegiant
Dream Mine
Go On Boy
Luke The Spook
Diva Ek
Borups Victory
Jobspost
Don Fanucci Zet
Gio Cash
Fine Manners
A Fair Day
Jabalpur
Keep Going
Charron
HARNESS RACING UPDATE RANKING (ELITLOPPET WINNER)
Go On Boy
The defending champion may actually be slightly overlooked this year. Few horses in Europe are as perfectly suited for Solvalla’s speed-oriented layout and his consistency at the highest level remains extraordinary.
Diva Ek
The Finlandia-Ajo winner arrives in peak form with perhaps the most explosive finishing kick in the entire field.
Gio Cash
The curve is pointing sharply upward and with Dexter Dunn in the bike, he shapes up as this year’s major dark horse.
Inexess Bleu
Perhaps the mentally toughest horse in the field. The question surrounding Inexess Bleu is not class — it is whether the sprint distance is sharp enough for him against this kind of opposition.
Idao de Tillard
At his best, perhaps the finest trotter in the world. But following colic surgery, it remains difficult to know exactly where he stands condition-wise.
Dream Mine
The Swedish and European Derby winner enters completely untested against the world elite, but his raw talent is undeniable. Post 6 could make the path to the final
demanding.
Borups Victory
One of the very best horses in Scandinavia on his day. Questions remain after the winter campaign in Paris, but his late speed is devastating.
Don Fanucci Zet
Making his sixth straight Elitlopp appearance speaks for itself. Age may have taken away a fraction, but his experience and tactical speed still make him dangerous.
Keep Going
Keep Going may lack the résumé of some of the bigger stars in the field, but few horses possess his combination of toughness and raw speed. If the fractions turn brutal, he becomes extremely dangerous late.
Allegiant
The American mare remains largely untested against this caliber of opposition, but her talent level is obvious. A perfect trip could take her a very long way.
Jobspost
Luke The Spook
Jabalpur
Fine Manners
A Fair Day
Charron
Program Saturday: https://cdn.travsport.se/racecards/trot/sport/616363.pdf
Program Sunday: https://cdn.travsport.se/racecards/trot/sport/616364.pdf
WORLD RECORD PERFORMANCE AT VINCENNES
Nayara took her second career victory when she stormed home to capture the $125,000 Prix Ozo for 3-year-old fillies at Vincennes on Tuesday (May 26), defeating both Normandie Niemen and Nocive du Choquel in the stretch while setting a new world record. Anthony Barrier guided the 18-1 outsider Nayara (Village Mystic—Io de Nappes) first-over down the backstretch as Nocive du Choquel vacated the pocket to challenge the heavily favored Normandie Niemen on the outside.
Turning for home, Nocive du Choquel appeared to have the leader measured, but she could never quite collar Normandie Niemen. Instead, Nayara swept past both rivals with authority and drew clear in a sensational 1:53.2 mile rate over 2,175 meters.
Philippe Allaire-trained Nat King Cole (Ready Cash—Deep Purple) gave favorite Neo de Joudes no chance whatsoever in the $125,000 Prix Kalmia for 3-year-old colts.
Cutting the mile from the front, Nat King Cole was never threatened for David Thomain and scored in track-record fashion, stopping the clock in 1:53.4 over 2,175 meters. Neo de Joudes (Django Riff) suffered the first defeat of his career in his sixth start after grinding first-over throughout to finish second, while Novecento (Earl Simon) completed the trifecta.
Earlier this year Nat King Cole captured the $80,000 Prix Atlas at Vincennes and last season he also won the $45,000 Prix du Haut Rhin at Enghien Racecourse.
