Elitloppet 2014

May 25, 2014 - Trotting, Group 1, 1.609 meter (1 mile), Solvalla, Sweden

Preview from May 21, 2014

Strong competitors from the USA, France, Italy, Norway and of course Sweden will arrive for the world's most prestigious sprint race for trotters at Stockholm on Sunday, though Swedish superstar Maharajah cannot take part due to an injury.

Stefan Hultman’s charge Panne de Moteuer will enter this year's event as favourite. He was knocked out in the elimination race of the Elitloppet 2013, but won the Jubileumspokalen and the Sundsvall Open afterwards, never finished worse than second in his last nine starts. Panne de Moteuer is very fast out and also strong from the back, which allows driver Örjan Kihlström several tactical opportunities. He loves to race on his home track at Solvalla and will face one of his top opponents in Heat 2 already:

Uncle Peter came to Europe for the first time in May where he could not impress at the Copenhagen Cup, but he will be in much better shape for the Elitloppet. The five-years-old set a World record of 1:08,7 at Pocono Downs in June last year.

The other two top favourites will clash in Heat 1 at first. Timoko came third in last year's Elitloppet, disappointed back home in France during the winter, though he at least finished fifth in the Prix d’Amérique 2014. Under new driver Björn Goop he found back to success in May, won the Prix Kerjacques in Vincennes. He will meat Digital Ink in the elimination race, who has never been placed worst than third in his last 22 starts. The Swedish hope set a world record for four year olds last year and won the Swedish Breeders' Crown and the Solvalla Grand Prix.

There are several other Swedish horses with good chances:
Delicious US came from the USA to Sweden last year to set a new Swedish record for 1640 meters. After a seven month break she won her first race last week and will now face the top opposition for the first time.
Also Shaq Is Back started his career in America where he won three million dollars as a two- and three-years-old. He did not make it to the final of last year's Elitloppet, but won all four starts in 2014. The seven-years-old usually wins his races from the lead, so his post position should help him in Heat 1.
Caballion was always attested great ability, but never really found a place among the elite. Things improved since he moved to Franck Leblanc in France. In May he won his first big race when defeated horses like Olympiatravet winner Solvato or Uncle Peter in the Copenhagen Cup.
Lutfi Kolgjini's Raja Mirchi has always been a special horse with capacity and experience, still it would be a surprise, if he would make it to the podium on Sunday.

Another trotter that must get a mention is the US-mare Maven who won ten of her 14 starts in 2013 and holds the world records over 800 (1:09,5) and 1000 meters (1:09,0). She is not the best starter but can display great speed later in the race. For her the Elitloppet will be the first appearance in Europe, as it will be for her Canadian top driver Yannick Gingras.

Pascia' Lest, the son of two-time Elitloppet winner Varenne, will represented Italy. He is trained by Thierry Duvaldestin (Ready Cash) and surprised when won the Prix de l´Atlantique ahead of several French top trotters in April.

Nahar won the Elitloppet last year and should be among the hottest candidates therefore this year, but he had not displayed good form since. In three of his last eight races he got even disqualified.