Top trotters are in action around Europe this weekend, and several Elitlopp horses, both those already invited and potential invitees, will be racing.
In France, the elite meet in the Prix des Ducs de Normandie at Caen in Normandy. It’s a Grade 2 race over 2,450 meters (1-1/2 miles) with a standing start, and Idao de Tillard, with Clément Duvaldestin, makes his final start here before the Elitlopp.
Also heading to the Elitlopp from the Caen race is Inexess Bleu, with Alexandre Abrivard. The total purse is €150,000 – €67,500 to the winner.
At Åby in Gothenburg, Sweden, there are no fewer than three Grade 1 races on the card.
Open-class trotters meet in the Paralympiatravet final over 1-5/16 miles, with a winner’s purse of SEK 1.5 million. Daniel Redén-trained Francesco Zet, with Örjan Kihlström, is the favorite.
The 4-year-old Swedish trotters compete in The King’s Trophy for the colts and The Queen’s Trophy for the mares. In each race, the first prize is SEK 1 million.
In the race for the males, three U.S.-bred horses are entered – Variegated, Blu Warlock, and Blank – but the favorite here also comes from Daniel Redén’s barn: Wise Guy (sired by Face Time Bourbon) with Örjan Kihlström in the sulky.
In the race for the mares, the Italian-born, Netherlands-trained Gourmet d’Arc (sired by Six Pack), with Robin Bakker and trained by Paul Hagoort, is co-favorite along with Fredrik Wallin-trained Pure Athena (Bar Hopping) with Carl Johan Jepson.
On Sunday, attention turns to Helsinki and the Vermo track, where Finland’s biggest international race, the Finlandia-Ajo, will be run with a first prize of €100,000. The race, a mile event, has a field of 10 trotters.
From the Finnish side, hopes are pinned on the local Massimo Hoist (sired by Muscle Hill) with Hannu Torvinen, who will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing performance in his most recent start.
He’ll face competition from Sweden’s Mellby Knekt (sired by Mellby Viking) with Magnus A. Djuse, trained by Timo Nurmos, as well as Gio Cash (Ready Cash) with Daniel Wäjersten, and the Italian mare Diva Ek (Trixton) with Alessandro Gocciadoro.