Two trial heats have been drawn for the 2023 Elitloppet, Sweden's premier trotting event which will be contested on Sunday, May 28 at Solvalla Race Course in Stockholm.
Sixteen trotters will compete in the two trials, including defending champion Etonnant for trainer Richard Westerink in the first trial along with past winner Don Fanucci Zet, one of three contenders for Daniel Redén. The top four finishers from each trial will advance to the final later in the day.
This year's field includes horses representing Sweden, Norway, France, Italy and Australia. Two drivers familiar to North American racing fans have picked up mounts. U.S. based Dexter Dunn will drive Stoletheshow in the first trial and Åke Svanstedt, a Swedish born two-time Elitloppet-winning driver, will steer the Redén-trained Hail Mary in the second trial.
The complete fields for the trials are listed below.
Elitloppet – Trial 1
Post – Horse (Country) – Driver – Trainer
1. Don Fanucci Zet (Sweden) – Örjan Kihlström – Daniel Redén
2. Önas Prince (Sweden) – Per Nordström – Per Nordström
3. Stoletheshow (Sweden) – Dexter Dunn – Frode Hamre
4. Etonnant (France) – Anthony Barrier – Richard Westerink
5. Vernissage Grif (Italy) – Alessandro Gocciadoro – Alessandro Gocciadoro
6. Go On Boy (France) – Romain Derieux – Romain Derieux
7. Just Believe (Australia)– Greg Sugars – Jessie Tubbs
8. Brother Bill (Sweden) – Magnus A Djuse – Timo Nurmos
Elitloppet – Trial 2
Post – Horse (Country) – Driver – Trainer
1. Best Ofdream Trio (Norway) – Kim Eriksson – Erik Killingmo
2. Ultion Face (Sweden) – Adrian Kolgjini
3. Mister Hercules (Sweden) – Santtu Raitala – Daniel Redén
4. Hail Mary (Sweden) – Åke Svanstedt – Daniel Redén
5. Hohneck (France) – Gabriele Gelormini – Philippe Allaire
6. San Moteur (Sweden) – Björn Goop – Björn Goop
7. Vivid Wise As (Italy) – Matthieu Abrivard – Alessandro Gocciadoro
8. Usain Töll (Italy) – Alexandre Abrivard – Vitale Ciotola