Presentation Elitloppet elimination race 2
The horses have been selected.
The post positions have been drawn.
Now all the preparations for the big trotting event at Solvalla are done.
Here is a presentation of the participants in Elitloppet 2017.
1. Up And Quick – France
Gender: Colt
Age: 9 years old
Trainer: Franck Leblanc, France
Driver: Franck Nivard
Owner: Ecuire Quick Star
Record: 1.09,4
Earnings: SEK 19 425 650
Winning percentage: 24%
Biggest win: Prix d’Amerique, Vincennes 2015
Attributes
Strength: 9
Speed: 7
Gate-speed: 8
Form: 9
Comment: A fighter who has been part of the French elite for many years and has won both Prix d’Amerique and Prix de France. Got injured during the French winter meeting last year but has now returned to the European elite after a long period of convalescence. Showed that he comes to Solvalla in great shape when he won Criterium de Vitesse de Basse Normandie and clocked 1.09,4, a new record for the race.
2. Twister Bi – Italy
Gender: Colt
Age: 5 years old
Trainer: Jerry Riordan, Halmstad
Driver: Christoffer Eriksson
Owner: Pasquale Ciccarelli
Record: 1.09,5
Earnings: SEK 2 872 055
Winning percentage: 43%
Biggest win: Seinäjoki Race, Seinäjoki 2017
Attributes
Strength: 8
Speed: 8
Gate-speed: 7
Form: 8
Comment: A very capable colt who started racing in Italy as a two year old and came to Sweden after that. Has from time to time been quite alert, but has improved a lot in that aspect the last six months. Won a big race for five year olds in Paris during the winter. He won his biggest race so far in Seinäjoki in April.
3. Propulsion – Sweden
Gender: Colt
Age: 6 years old
Trainer: Daniel Redén, Solvalla
Driver: Johan Untersteiner
Owner: Stall Zet
Record: 1.08,9
Earnings: SEK 7 282 195
Winning percentage: 48%
Biggest win: Finlandia-Ajo, Vermo 2016
Attributes
Strength: 9
Speed: 9
Gate-speed: 7
Form: 8
Comment: Last season’s newcomer to the Nordic trotting elite after being bought from the USA in 2015. Sprinted to fourth place in Elitloppet last year and won three races where he earned SEK 1 million during the season. Spent the winter in France and managed to finish fourth in the Prix d’Amerique despite tricky preparations. His last performance left a bit of a question mark to the form when he had to settle for second place in Finlandia-Ajo as the big race favorite.
4. Nuncio – Sweden
Gender: Colt
Age: 6 years old
Trainer: Stefan Melander, Solvalla
Driver: Örjan Kihlström
Owner: Stall T.Z. (Stefan Melander)
Record: 1.08,7
Earnings: SEK 27 948 230
Winning percentage: 70%
Biggest win: Elitloppet, Solvalla 2016
Attributes
Strength: 10
Speed: 9
Gate-speed: 8
Form: 7
Comment: A tough world trotter who only has missed finishing top three once in 56 starts. Nuncio was bought by Stefan Melander as a one year old and was part of the American elite as a two and three year old before he continued his career in Sweden in 2015. Crushed the opposition in Elitloppet last year and went undefeated throughout the season. Is not afraid of any opposition in the world but hasn’t been himself lately and starts in Elitloppet with a question mark behind him.
5. In Vain Sund – Sweden
Gender: Colt
Age: 5 years old
Trainer: Daniel Redén, Solvalla
Driver: Erik Adielsson
Owner: Stall Zet
Record: 1.09,7
Earnings: SEK 3 243 197
Winning percentage: 24%
Biggest win: Prix de Croix, Vincennes 2017
Attributes
Strength: 7
Speed: 7
Gate-speed: 7
Form: 8
Comment: A fighter who has been racing against the top horses of the same age since he was a three year old. Finished third in Grand Prix de l’U.E.T. at Vincennes in October and he returned to Paris this winter and won Prix de Croix. In Vain Sund crossed the finish line first in Copenhagen Cup but was disqualified after breaking stride in the final meters.
6. Timoko – France
Gender: Colt
Age: 10 years old
Trainer: Richard Westerink, France
Driver: Björn Goop
Owner: Richard Westerink
Record: 1.09,1
Earnings: SEK 44 173 058
Winning percentage: 34%
Biggest win: Elitloppet, Solvalla 2014
Attributes
Strength: 7
Speed: 8
Gate-speed: 9
Form: 8
Comment: A French warrior who keeps on going and never gives up. Has raced against the world elite his whole career and this winter he became the French trotter with the most earnings through all times. Timoko starts in Elitloppet for a fifth time and he won the race in 2014. After winning France biggest race over sprint distance, Criterium de Vitesse, in March he received an invitation to Elitloppet.
7. Dante Boko – Sweden
Gender: Gelding
Age: 7 years old
Trainer: Lutfi Kolgjini, Jägersro
Driver: Adrian Kolgjini
Owner: Stall Be the Best
Record: 1.09,2
Earnings: SEK 5 672 776
Winning percentage: 29%
Biggest win: Sweden Cup, Solvalla 2016
Attributes
Strength: 8
Speed: 7
Gate-speed: 6
Form: 10
Comment: A quick, tough seven year old who’s dangerous for most horses when he’s on top. Had his big breakthrough in France as a five year old when he earned SEK 1 million in four starts. He returned to Sweden in time for the Elitloppet-weekend last year and won both the elimination race and the final of Sweden Cup. Dante Boko was outstanding when he won the Gold Division race at Örebro and showed that he’s in great form after another winter in France.
8. Elian Web – Finland
Gender: Gelding
Age: 5 years old
Trainer: Katja Melkko, Finland
Driver: Janne Soronen
Owner: Talli Webbie
Record: 1.10,2
Earnings: SEK 3 551 213
Winning percentage: 63%
Biggest win: Finnish trotting Derby, Vermo 2016
Attributes
Strength: 6
Speed: 7
Gate-speed: 9
Form: 9
Comment: Winner of the Finnish trotting Derby last year who will be supported by many Finnish fans. Has just started racing against the elite and he made an impact in Finlandia-Ajo where he was very fast behind the gate from starting post eight and held on well from the lead and finished fourth.