by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The party is on at Solvalla in Stockholm, Sweden. On Saturday afternoon, May 29, a crowd of 21,569 followed the races where the Sweden Cup was the highlight.

Kanal 75 photo

Irving Ricardo and Pietro Gubellini won the Sweden Cup.

The Sweden Cup is raced in the same way as the prestigious Elitlopp with two eliminations and a final over the mile. The Italian trotter Irving Ricardo, driven by Pietro Gubellini, won his elimination as well as the final. In both races Irving Ricardo was in command from the start. He won his elimination in 1:55.1f and the final in 1:54.3f.

The other elimination was won by the Swedish trotter SJ’s Photocopy, driven by Ulf Ohlson, in 1:57.f. In the final SJ’s Photocopy finished third. The second place finisher in the final behind Irving Ricardo was Marshland, driven by Ôrjan Kihlström.

On Friday evening, May 28, the Elitsale with 100 yearlings took place. A total of 65 trotters were sold at an average price of $29,300 — a fraction better than last year.

The most expensive horse was the colt Rebellion, sired by Viking Kronos and out of a full sister to Merrie Annabelle winner Muscovite. Rebellion was sold for $130,000 to trainer Stefan Hultman. Rebellion is the first foal out of the dam, Revitalize.

A bid of $92,000 was the price for Codebreaker, who is sired by Donato Hanover and out of Holleypop, 1:54.1, a winner of $142,664. This is her first foal, too.

Chuck Boko, a colt sired by Varenne and out of Sissy Jean Boko, was sold for $91,000. The dam was quite successful in Sweden with a record of 1:57.1f and earnings of $205,000.