2024 Elitloppet

May 26, 2023 - Trotting, 1,609 meters, Solvalla, Sweden

Preview from April 24, 2024

It seems that a clash of the titans will take place in this year's Elitloppet. But there are not only Idao de Tillard, the probably best trotter of the world, and Sweden's superstar Francesco Zet. The 'Sprint World Championship of Trotting' is a very special event with two races on one day, where many things can happen.

Idao de Tillard is to be said the world's best trotting horse at present, he will most likely enter the 2024 Elitloppet as favourite. This year, he already won the Prix d'Amérique and the Prix de France, both races by a large margin. His trainer Thierry Duvaldestin assumes, his six-year-old son of Séverino will get along well with the tight, slanted Swedish racetracks. So far Idao de Tillard has not run outside France, so it will be exciting to watch him in the North of Europe.

Francesco Zet is something like the Swedish Idao de Tillard. He is also six year old, cannot find adversary in his age group, won 21 of his 23 starts. He has not run outside of his homeland either, faced older opponents only once, and even has not run a race since last August. According to trainer Daniel Redén Francesco Zet is totally fine. First target is the Åby World Grand Prix in August, which means, a start in the Elitloppet is not guaranteed.

Hohneck returns to Solvalla as title defender. He succeeded in last year's Elitloppet and won the final of the UET Elite Circuit on the same track in October. No doubt, the seven-year-old son of Royal Dream has international class, but he did not appear at his best during the Paris Winter Meeting. However, Hohneck rather prefers the sprint distances anyway and he has shown, he copes with the Solvalla racetrack. A positive sign was his second place in the Prix de l’Atlantique on April 20.

Go On Boy came third in the Elitloppet final last year and meanwhile seems even stronger. He finished only third in the Critérium de Vitesse on March 10, but was fourth in the Prix d'Amérique und and came runner-up in the Prix de France, though he had to start from the second row and ran with a flat tyre. Not for the first time, he had problems at the start in the Prix de l’Atlantique, then even got disqualified.

Joviality won the Svenskt Trav-Derby against the colts last year and came third in the Prix d'Amérique. With this achievements the five-year-old mare must be on the Elitloppet shortlist. The daughter of Chapter Seven had started her career in the United States, where she won twenty times over the mile. She already got an invitation to the Elitloppet.

Hail Mary ended runner-up in the 2022 Elitloppet and won the Sundsvall Open Trot last year. He was not in good form at the Paris Winter Meeting, could not manage an one-digit place in the Prix d'Amérique or Prix de France. Now back to Sweden, the 2020 Svenskt Travderby winner might show different form again.

Önas Prince won the Copenhagen Cup and came fourth in the Elitloppet last year. Afterwards, he could not start for eight months due to an injury. The seven-ear-old colt, who is known for his qick starts, won the Algot Scotts Minne on April 6 and qualified for the Paralympiatravet at Åby on May 4.

A Fair Day gets prepared by the 69-year-old amateur trainer Elisabeth Almheden, who has only two horses in her stable. Driver is the rather unknown Oscar Ginman. Her five-year-old son of Maharajah won 13 of his 26 Starts and was clocked in 1:09,4 when won the Prins Carl Philips Jubileumspokal over 1.640 Meter on March 29. He had won last year's Breeders’ Crown final and could run in the Lyon Grand Prix at Åby on May 4.

Vivid Wise AS is one of the world's best sprinters, even though he is ten years. The Italian would participate for the fifth time in the Elitloppet, made it to the final the last three years and came runner-up 2021. The 21-times group-1-winner has huge experience but would only be among the outsiders. This year he has not found his form yet, came only fifth in the Critérium de Vitesse.

Horsy Dream had been the 2023 Prix d'Amérique favourite and won the Prix de Séléction the same year, but could not get this form to the new year, did not even qualify for the 2024 Amérique. Meanwhile, the seven-year-old French colt attracted attention again, won the Prix de l’Atlantique by six length and a new race record.

Emeraude de Bais is one of these horses getting better with age. Se finished eighth in the Prix d'Amérique, was runner-up in the Critérium de Vitesse and won the Prix du Bois de Vincennes, the was disqualified in the Prix de l’Atlantique. The ten-year-old mare would come to Solvalla, if she would get an invitation. Her next start could be the Ducs de Normandie on May 11.

Jiggy Jog S could come over from the United States, she is trained in the US by the Swed Åke Svanstedt, who has always been interested in the Elitloppet. The five-year-old mare had won the 2022 and the 2023 Breeder’s Crown in her homeland and proved her international class at the Yonkers International Trot in October. Despite her starting position in the second row, she finished runner-up behind Vivid Wise AS, but ahead of Bengurion Jet or Etonnant.

Just Believe could be another enrichment from oversea. The nine-year-old gelding had come the long way from Australia last year already, when fell into gallop and came last in the first heat. Afterwards, he ended third in the Jämtlands Stora Pris and second in the Norrbottens Stora Pris. Back to Australia, he won all ten starts so far. Greg Sugars recently announced, Just Believe would return to Sweden, if he would get invited.


Antepost-odds for the 2024 Elitloppet can be found at Racebets.

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» More information about Swedish trotting races.