by Kimberly A. Rinker, USTA Web Newsroom Correspondent

Solvalla, Sweden — Uncle Peter, a winner of $1,187,636 in his career, is gearing up for his trip to Solvalla this weekend.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Uncle Peter heads to the Elitlopp with $1,187,636 in career earnings.

The 5-year-old son of Cantab Hall-Victory Treasure has been prepping for his Elitlopp start in southern Sweden, at the Kalmar Trav training facility, under the watchful eye of conditioner Tommy Zackrisson.

Uncle Peter already has one start on Scandinavian turf under his belt, having competed in and finished fifth in the Copenhagen Cup in Denmark on May 11.

The Jimmy Taker trainee had a serious training session Thursday morning at Kalmar Trav.

“I wouldn’t have sent him over there unless I thought he had a chance, and ideally, that’s why you’d want to have five or six starts into a horse when you’re going into a big race like the Elitlopp,” Takter said. “But that’s why we went to the Copenhagen Cup. That trip is tough.”

Takter has won the Elitlopp before — in 1998 with the great mare Moni Maker.

“The Elitlopp is more of an American style of race because it’s a mile,” he stressed. “A lot of horses over there are beatable. What can be tough is that our horses — at this time of year — are just starting to race and in Europe some of those horses have had seven or eight starts under their belts already.”

Owned by Christina Takter, Brixton Medical AB, John and Jim Fielding and Goran Falk, Uncle Peter has drawn post three in the second of two Elitlopp eliminations.

“He’s in the division that’s a bit tougher,” said Takter. “But I’d say it’s the most open race. There’s a lot of front speed on the inside, with some strong horses on the outside of him. Raja Mirchi (with post four and driver Lutfi Kolgjini) can’t leave great, as Lutfi has to be a little cautious with him for most of the first quarter. But then he’s going to come on strong, and he’ll put pressure on them to get to the front, unless he gets parked.”

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Uncle Peter won the 2011 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters.

Uncle Peter has proved he’s as game as they come throughout his career. At two, he won the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt trot final in 1:55, after taking a freshman mark of 1:54.2 at Lexington. He posted seasonal earnings of $346,582 that first year.

At three, the venerable trotter won a Hambletonian elimination heat in 1:53.3, then made a break in the final to finish out of the money to the winning Market Share. He added another $299,322 to his career coffers that season, and lowered his lifetime record to 1:52.3f in a Pennsylvania All Stars in early July at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Last season as a 4-year-old, Uncle Peter emerged from his winter break stronger than ever, posting a 1:50.3 world record at Pocono Downs and dropping another $519,232 into his already hefty bank account.

“He’s a really top class horse from the USA and a horse that we have really, really longed for,” noted Tore Fyrand, Solvalla’s Sports Director. “We are proud and happy that he will participate in the Elitlopp.”

Coming into the Elitlopp, Uncle Peter has 13 wins, 12 seconds and a trio of third-place finishes stateside, from 37 trips postward.

“Let’s just say the Elitlopp is going to be an interesting race,” Takter said. “I didn’t go over to Sweden just to pick up a check. That’s not what we’re hoping for.”

Below are the fields for the Elitlopp eliminations:

1st Elimination
1. Shaq Is Back – Daniel Redén
2. Prussia – Pietro Gubellini
3. Timoko – Björn Goop
4. Digital Ink – Örjan Kihlström
5. Reven d’Amour – Erik Adielsson
6. Maven – Yannick Gingras
7. Truculent – Johnny Takter
8. Nahar – Robert Bergh

2nd Elimination
1. Delicious – Daniel Reden
2. Panne de Moteur – Ôrjan Kihlström
3. Uncle Peter – David Miller
4. Raja Mirchi – Lutfi Kolgjini
5. Sanity – Erik Adielsson
6. Caballion – Björn Goop
7. Juliano Rags – Noralf Braekken
8. Pascia’ L’est – Enrico Bellei