Two of the leading contenders for the Elitlopp at Solvalla, Italy’s Vivid Wise As and Sweden’s Ônas Prince, were both victorious on Easter Monday.

At the Vinovo track in Turin, Italy, Vivid Wise As with French driver Mathieu Abrivard was the 1-2 favorite to win the prestigious Gran Premio Azzurra with a total purse of 154,000 Euro.

Vivid Wise As had drawn post position one and became boxed in from the start and at the half-mile it looked as though he never would find racing room. However, around the last bend Abrivard found racing room, but Vivid Wise As still was four lengths behind leading stablemate Zacon Gio with Alessandro Abrivard in the bike. Down the stretch Vivid Wise As was flying and made the obvious impossible happen as he won by a neck in 1:54.2f followed by Capital Mail with Gabriele Gelormini and Zacon Gio.

The purse for the winner was 54,400 Euro.

While Vivid Wise As really had to fight for the victory, Ônas Prince with trainer/driver Per Nordström was in a class of his own at the Halmstad track in Southern Sweden.

Ônas Prince was parked outside leading Laradja Vrijhout with Conrad Lugauer most of the race, but with a quarter to go Nordström asked his trotter to stretch out and Ônas Prince took off and won by 10 lengths in 1:51.4f. The purse for the winner was 100,000 SEK.

While Vivid Wise As has received an invitation to race in the Elitlopp, Per Nordström is still waiting for one for Ônas Prince.