by Anna Svensson, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Stig H. Johansson, who we know as the trainer and driver of Victory Tilly, the horse that came from Sweden in 2002 to win the Nat Ray at the Meadowlands in a world record performance (1:50.4), has 44 starters during the Elitlopp weekend at Solvalla in Stockholm.

The one he has in the Elitlopp is Citation, the 6-year-old son of Conway Hall who raced in the United States as a 2- and 3-year-old against colts such as Windsong’s Legacy and Tom Ridge.

Citation has matured well and Johansson is very optimistic going into the Elitlopp.

Lars Jakobsson/Kanal 75 photo

Stig H. Johansson will be seeking his seventh victory in the Elitlopp.

“He has capacity to win the Elitlopp,” Johansson said about Citation.

Right now, everything focuses around Going Kronos and Mr Muscleman, but Johansson has the experience to win the Elitlopp. He has won it six times (which is a record) with The Onion, Utah Bulwark, Napolitano, Peace Corps, Gum Ball and Victory Tilly.

The Victory Tilly win is his favorite, because that’s the best horse Johansson has ever trained and driven.

When asked about the best Elitlopp he has seen he said, “Oh, that was a tough one. There are so many good finals and so many good horses, but if I have to pick one it would have to be in 1994 when Copiad (Erik Berglöf) beat Pine Chip (Chris Boring). That was a tremendous battle and the two horses were exceptionally good and out-classed the rest of the field. The cheering afterwards, when Copiad had won, was fantastic.”

Johansson retired from driving when he turned 60, so now Erik Adielsson will drive Citation as he is Johansson’s regular driver. Even though Johansson has many sweet memories from his driving days he claims he doesn’t miss the racing.

“No, not really. I have not missed the racing aspect since I stopped driving a year and a half ago. I still train about 150 horses and that’s good enough for me. Maybe I’ll do a warm-up on Saturday and Sunday — if I’m needed.”