V75®: Swedish/Italian horse chasing Elitlopp invitation
A juicy first prize and an Elitlopp invitation.
A lot is at stake when Usain Töll returns to Swedish soil in H.R.H. Prince Daniel's race.
"We have not received any invitation to Elitloppet, so we will try this way" says the trainer Vitale Ciotola.
With eight days left to Elitloppet, H.R.H. Prince Daniel's race is the last chance for the horses to make it on their own so to speak. There is also a purse check of SEK 400,000 awaiting the winner. One of the winning candidates is the Swedish-born Usuain Töll (V75-6), who last raced in Gran Premio della Lotteria in Naples, Italy where he finished fifth in the final, after having won his elimination.
"It was a long trip to Naples, but everything went well and my horse feels fresh and sound after that" says Vitale Ciotola in this week's episode of the podcast 'V75® - lördag hela veckan'.
Close to beating the Elitloppet champion
The Italian trainer is stabled at the training center Grosbois, not far from Paris, and since Usuain Töll was sold to Italian owners in the fall of 2020, he has faced tough horses in France. Back in April when he finished second at Vincennes, he was only beaten by a head by the reigning Elitlopp champion Etonnant. There is no doubt that Usuain Töll can measure up with the best trotters out there.
"In Elitloppet there are first-class trotters, maybe one notch better than Usuain Töll, but he did very well in the Lotteria, and with a good post position in an Elitlopp elimination, they won't leave him behind that easily. If he were to race in Elitloppet, it would be a great honor for me if he could make it to the final and finish where he finished in the final of the Lotteria".
In the race this Saturday at Gävle, the distance is the same as in Elitloppet, 1,609 meters, which suits Usuain Töll like a glove. He was also fortunate in the post position draw and drew post five.
"Milliondollarrhyme is the one I know best of the opponents and he will be hard to pass out of the gate" says Vitale Ciotola, who plans on racing his horse with the best possible balance.
"If the track surface allows it, he will race barefoot all around. Last time out, in Naples he had shoes on but at Vincennes in the start prior he raced barefoot and raced very well".