This weekend offered a preview of what awaits on the final Sunday in May, when Europe’s biggest mile race, the Elitlopp at Solvalla, is run.
Saturday (May 9) in France, Inexess Bleu, driven by Alexandre Abrivard, won the Group 2 Prix des Ducs de Normandie at Caen, even though he was one of the few in the race to start with shoes on all four hooves. Without shoes, Inexess Bleu is usually much better.
Two other horses in the field have also been invited to the Elitlopp. Idao de Tillard, with Clément Duvaldestin, sat far back in the 15-horse field but finished strongly in :26.4 over the final 400 meters and could do no better than fifth. The third invitee, Jabalpur, with Gabriele Gelormini, traveled well near the front but tired in the stretch and finished out of the money.
A few hours later, Francesco Zet, trained by Daniel Redén and driven by Örjan Kihlström, won the Paralympic Trot (1-5/16 miles) at Åby in Sweden.
Francesco Zet won in 1:51.4f (mile rate), just a fraction short of his own world record set in 2024.
Francesco Zet (sired by Father Patrick) has started in the Elitlopp the past two years, with a fourth-place finish in 2024 as his best result. He hasn’t been invited yet this year, but surely that invitation is on the way.
By contrast, the Italian mare Diva Ek (sired by Trixton), trained and driven by Alessandro Gocciadoro, earned her invitation on Sunday afternoon (May 10) when she won the Finlandia-Ajo at Vermo in Helsinki.
Diva Ek fought off Daniel Redén-trained Keep Asking, driven by Örjan Kihlström, and won by a neck. Third was a fast-finishing Gio Cash, trained by Daniel Wäjersten. All three were timed in 1:53f.
With three weeks to go until the Elitlopp, 11 horses have now been invited out of 16.
They are:
Go On Boy (France)
Inexess Bleu (France)
Jobspost (Sweden)
A Fair Day (Sweden)
Allegiant (Sweden)
Idao de Tillard (France)
Massimo Hoist (Finland)
Jabalpur (Italy)
Borups Victory (Sweden)
Dream Mine (Sweden)
Diva Ek (Italy)