by Thomas Hedlund

Alessandro Gocciadoro initiated the weekend meeting at Solvalla on Saturday (May 25) by winning with 5-year-old Diamond Truppo (Varenne) in the first Sweden Cup elimination. Gocciadoro hit the lead in the first turn and had everything under control all the way. Diamond Truppo won in 1:52.2 while Ideal du Rocher and Dats So Cool finished behind.

Then it was time for French star Just A Gigolo to show up again in front of Solvalla’s grandstand. Philippe Allaire’s trotter was the runner-up behind Barack Face in the Grand Prix de l’U.E.T. at Solvalla in October and the lust for revenge was big on the French’s part.

But the elimination turned out to be a difficult task for driver Gabriele Gelormini. After a safe, easy start, Just A Gigolo had to leave three wide already in the first turn, aiming for the front position, but Missle Hill was lifted out in position first over and it was Missle Hill (Muscle Hill) that proved strongest in the stretch. Daniel Redén’s horse came home in 1:51.1 and leader Click Bait held for the silver medal, ahead of a strong finishing Just A Gigolo. A spot in the final for the French star and the hope for great success still lived on.

Gocciadoro usually experiences happy days at Solvalla on this huge stakes weekend and it was no surprise that his Always Ek (Filipp Roc) was in top shape in the second elimination. The trotter delivered a performance worth a spot in every big mile race from now on. A first-over trip in a high paced race didn’t disturb Always Ek and Gocciadoro’s horse came home in a spectacular mile rate of 1:50.2.

Gio Cash finished second from second over, while Emoji took the last spot in the final from the pocket.

Then Diamond Truppo, Ideal du Rocher, Dats So Cool, Missle Hill, Click Bait, Just A Gigolo, Always Ek, Gio Cash and Emoji all waited for the $112,000 Sweden Cup final.

Click Bait opened quickly from post 4 in the final, but driver Per Lennartsson opted to let Gocciadoro take over with Always Ek, who came to the final as the second fastest horse ever at Solvalla. Only Bold Eagle (1:50) has trotted faster and the respect for Always Ek was obviously big from the opponents in the final.

Just A Gigolo became the bettors’ first choice after his bronze medal in the elimination, but the gait wasn’t great for the French star in his second heat and his break in the last turn opened it up for Missle Hill, who was served a ground saving trip in second over.

Örjan Kihlström could wait with the full attack until the top of the stretch and Missle Hill had enough speed and power to disarm Always Ek shortly before the wire.

This was Redén’s first triumph in the Sweden Cup and today (May 26) he has two strong cards to play in the main event, Elitloppet.

Always Ek finished second and Gocciadoro’s second horse Diamond Truppo was third.

Missle Hill has raced in Elitloppet and was in front in the final in 2020; he ended as fifth that time. Now he has claimed another big trophy in Europe, as a 9-year-old. The mile rate over 1,640 meters was 1:51.4. The son of Muscle Hill came to Sweden after his 3-year-old season (Tony Alagna trained the horse in the U.S.) and started by winning in the $100,000 Fyraåringseliten on Elitloppet day in 2019. In 2020, he won his biggest race to date, the $200,000 Jubileumspokalen for 5-year-olds. Thereafter Missle Hill has belonged in the highest division in the Swedish V75 and even in some races in France. This was not the highest purse he has won, but emotionally, coming in front of a hometown crowd on the biggest weekend of the year, winning the Sweden Cup was something special.

DRAMA IN HARPER HANOVERS RACE

Three laps, a strong 15-horse field and an audience that really enjoys great horses, great races and drivers — which means they don’t keep quiet). That was the conditions when the $193,000 Harper Hanovers Race ended Solvalla’s Saturday (May 25) race card.

The race was heading for 2,500 meters, with Keep Gamble in front and favorite Izoard Vedaquais on the outside, when an accident happened far back in the field. Elitloppet driver Mats E Djuse (Hustle Rain) was thrown out of the bike, but could stand up immediately after the fall, but the race was postponed until after Solvalla’s last race.