For the second year in a row, the French are celebrating a victory in Sweden’s biggest race.

by Thomas Hedlund

The French armada was strong at Solvalla for the second straight year, but it was Hohneck, not defending champ Etonnant, who surprised in Sunday’s (May 28) Elitloppet.

Although Hohneck did not win his elimination, his connections felt he would be better in the final and that feeling proved to be correct

Etonnant was the best in the first Elitloppet elimination and that was kind of a surprise, even if Richard Westerink’s trotter was the title defender in the race. Don Fanucci Zet, Önas Prince and Stoletheshow all three had better post positions and Don Fanucci Zet became the bettors’ choice as the car left the field.

Don Fanucci Zet went off stride as the car accelerated, which led to an easy way to the front for Önas Prince. His driver Per Nordström was allowed to keep the pace at a low level with Etonnant on the outside. Etonnant’s morale and strength resulted in an advantage at the top of the stretch and the only threat, Go On Boy, just secured the spot in the final.

Etonnant won in 1:52 and behind him were Go On Boy and Önas Prince. Dexter Dunn’s drive Stoletheshow claimed the last spot in the final.

There was no shortage of speed when heat 2 was rolling 25 minutes later. Unexpected leader Best Ofdream Trio and driver Kim Eriksson took a chance and kept the front position when outside trotter Hail Mary attacked in the first turn. The pace was high throughout the race. Hail Mary took over the lead on the backstretch when Best Ofdream Trio more or less gave up and Vivid Wise As connected on Hail Mary’s outside. That was also unexpected. Vivid Wise As never found a spot to rest so Matthieu Abrivard continued three wide the entire race until he landed outside of Hail Mary just before the last turn.

Coming from behind, horses like Hohneck and favorite San Moteur could use their speed, respectively in the stretch. San Moteur won easily for Björn Goop in 1:51.1. Hohneck was second, Vivid Wise As third and the fourth horse for the final was Hail Mary.

The draw for the final made things interesting. San Moteur got number 2, Etonnant 3 which left the number 1 spot to Hohneck (Royal Dream), driven by Gabriele Gelormini and trained by Philippe Allaire.

Allaire is often mentioned in this column, especially during the winter meeting in Paris. The top French trainer must be considered as one of the best conditioners in Europe. Winning the Elitloppet was a special moment for him.

Hohneck controlled the final of the Elitloppet after the first turn, when Önas Prince’s driver Nordström opted to let Hohneck take over the lead. Gelormini kept the pace low (for an Elitloppet final) level, which meant that the last half mile was expected to be a fast one. And so it was. Hohneck sprinted easily in front and the chasers, with San Moteur first over, could never reach Allaire’s 6-year-old, who won in 1:50.4.

“This is a dream, maybe a once in a lifetime experience, and I’m so satisfied right now. The horse was just perfect and when we reached the lead, I felt very comfortable. I understood that we had our chance to win the Elitloppet,” said Gelormini in the winner’s circle after the $930,000 victory.

“We left the shoes on for the elimination and I was pretty confident ahead of the final,” Allaire said after the big win. “This is a big moment for me. I’ve been here at Solvalla many times, seen many winners of these races, and now we’re standing here. It’s a big joy, I’m very happy.”

The fight for the medals behind the winner was tight. San Moteur held strongly as runner up and he had to share the silver with quick finisher Go On Boy in a dead heat.

Allaire’s joy at Solvalla on Sunday afternoon will forever be remembered and as breeder, owner and trainer of an Elitloppet winner, it’s easy to understand his euphoria.

France dominated the 2023 Elitloppet and it was a fresh horse, with a charismatic entourage surrounding him who won. Well-deserved and again, Vive la France!

ITALIAN DOMINANCE IN BREEDERS COURSE FINALS

Two Breeders Course finals for 3-year-olds were held during Sunday’s race card at Solvalla.

In the $113,500 final for fillies, Dexter Dunn steered Kitty Hawk on the lead and it seemed like Dunn had stolen the race as the field turned for home, but far outside and on the leader’s inside, horses attacked aggressively the last 100 meters. Kitty Hawk fought well, but couldn’t hold quick finisher Esmeralda Bez (Maharajah) and Alessandro Gocciadoro behind her at the wire. The mile rate was 1:58 over 1.3 miles.

In the $187,500 final for 3-year-olds, Reijo Liljendahl trained Epsom As (Muscle Mass), bred in Italy, took a pretty safe almost wire-to-wire win for Ulf Ohlsson. Epsom As had to give away the lead for a short while in the first turn, but Ulf Ohlsson was quick to take back command in the race. It was a strong mile rate of 1:57.2 over 1.3 miles for a 3-year-old in May and Epsom As will continue to win big races this summer.

IMPRESSIVE 4-YEAR-OLDS

Tomas Malmqvist had a great day at Solvalla on Saturday’s card (May 27) and could laugh again when the $56,000 Delicious race for 4-year-old mares was held on Sunday afternoon.

Jazzy Perrine (Django Riff), with great merits from the toughest possible races in France, came to Sweden and had to face superstar Joviality in her first race outside of France.

Goop sat behind Jazzy Perrine and from first over, outside of leader Don’t Say Gar, she was just unstoppable and Malmqvist’s trotter won in 1:51, leaving Joviality several lengths behind at the wire.

In the $95,000 Fyraåringseliten for 4-year-olds, Örjan Kihlström had to solve starting from post 8 with American-bred Double Deceiver (Cantab Hall) and after a first turn three wide, Double Deceiver landed outside the leader with a kilometer to go. A tough trip for the talented trotter, but Double Deceiver showed great moral as he disarmed leader Gio Cash with 50 meters to go.

The winner’s time was 1:52.3 and owner Daniel Redén got some money back after the $500,000 purchase from Harrisburg in 2022.

Elitloppet Heat 1 replay here.

Elitloppet Heat 2 replay here.

Elitloppet final replay here.