The 7-year-old Italian mare Diva Ek, driven by her trainer Alessandro Gocciadoro, proved the strongest in the prestigious Swedish major race C TH Ericssons Memorial at Solvalla (March 28). The race was contested over 1-5/16 miles with a total purse of SEK 1 million.
Diva Ek claimed a clear victory despite racing outside leader Mellby Jinx, driven by Daniel Wäjersten.
Diva Ek won in 1:54.2 (mile rate) finishing ahead of Mellby Jinx and High On Pepper, with Jorma Kontio in the sulky. The popular favorite A Fair Day, driven by Oscar Ginman, was locked in behind Mellby Jinx in the stretch and had to settle for fourth place.
This marked the 23rd win in 45 starts for Diva Ek, who is sired by Trixton and comes from an Italian female line tracing back to the American mare Hampton Hanover (by Titan Hanover), foaled in 1959.
Diva Ek is part of a strong group of siblings that includes Always Ek (by Filipp Roc) with a record of 1:50.2 and earnings of €1 million; Executiv Ek (by Face Time Bourbon), 1:51.3 and €635,000, winner of the Italian Derby; and Vanesia Ek (by Exploit Caf), 1:53.4 and €436,000 in earnings.
Diva Ek, who last year won the Group 1 Copenhagen Cup and finished second in the International Trot at Yonkers, has now earned €619,000 in her career.
Solvalla has begun issuing invitations for this year’s big event, the Elitloppet, to be held on Sunday, May 31. The first invitation went to last year’s winner, the French star Go On Boy, followed by another French invite to Inexess Bleu. On Saturday, the first Swedish horse was invited: Jobspost, who has started twice this year at Vincennes and won both races, with a fastest mile rate of 1:52.1.