After a late scratch of opening-heat winner Readly Express, the Romain Derieux-driven Dijon raced with confidence and went on to capture the final of the 2019 Elitloppet on Sunday (May 26) at Solvalla Racecourse in Stockholm, Sweden.
Dijon (No. 5, on the inside), pictured holding off his rivals while winning the final of the 2019 Elitloppet.
Readly Express, who had been a strong front-end winner in his opening heat, was scratched moments before the final of the Elitloppet (Race 11). In what was a classy move by both horseman and crowd, driver Björn Goop paraded Readly Express in front of the saluting crowd before steering the son of Ready Cash off the track. Goop took to social media soon after to announce that Readly Express has been retired from racing.
The scratch-reduced field lined up behind the starting gate shortly after Readly Express' exit, and each of the combatants moved in one post slot closer to the rail. Dijon would go on to do his best impression of Readly Express in the final, given the latter’s absence. Derieux was aggressive after the wings of the gate drew away, as he fired his charge out from Post 4 and to the point early.
A pair of overland bidders took some shots at Dijon throughout the course of the race. The Iikka Nurmonen-driven Next Direction had ranged up early in the contest, while the Örjan Kilhström-steered Propulsion took a shot at the point later. Dijon rebuffed each of the attackers, but he saved enough for deep stretch, where he would need it.
Opening-heat winner Aubrioan Du Gers, driven by the swaggy Joseph Verbeeck, had saved his best brush for late in the contest. Verbeeck, who had been very confident heading into the final, positioned Aubrioan Du Gers second-over at the halfway point in the race. Verbeeck called on his charge in the stretch and Aubrioan Du Gers responded with trot. Aubrioan Du Gers gobbled up real estate while racing three-wide, but just came up just short at the wire, by a neck or possibly a head.
The 2019 Elitloppet was captured by Dijon, followed by Aubrioan Du Gers. Makethemark, who was driven by Ulf Ohlsson, raced well along the rail for the duration of the race, and his cautious strategy allowed him to advance up to third-best when the dust settled.
The Elitloppet's opening heats won were by Readly Express and Aubrion Du Gersin, who each recorded the victories in front of a strong Solvalla crowd. The top four finishers from each of the opening heats had advanced to the Elitloppet final. The post positions for the final appear below (please note that horses in Post 3 through 7 moved in one slot after the scratch of Readly Express).
(Post - Horse - Driver)
1. Aubrion Du Gers - Joseph Verbeeck
2. Readly Express - Björn Goop (SCRATCHED)
3. Propulsion - Örjan Kilhström
4. Makethemark - Ulf Ohlsson
5. Dijon - Romain Derieux
6. Looking Superb - Åke Svanstedt
7. Milliondollarrhyme - Fredrik Larsson
8. Next Direction - Iikka Nurmonen
Readly Express and driver Björn Goop captured the first of the two elimination heats.
Readly Express (No. 7, on the inside), pictured holding off his rivals while in victory during the first of the 2019 Elitloppet’s opening heats.
Goop and Readly Express lined up in Post 7 for the first heat (Race 6), which featured a field of eight. The seven-year-old son of Ready Cash wanted the lead early, as Goop allowed his brown charge to race first-up early. The pair cleared to the lead, which placed the early leader, Makethemark (who was driven by Ulf Ohlsson), into the pocket.
Readly Express and Makethemark – who were racing in first and second, respectively – led the rest of the field into the homestretch, which set up for a thrilling finish.
Ohlsson popped the pocket in the lane and had a lot of trot upon asking. After having raced well off the early speed, the Åke Svanstedt-driven Looking Superb fired home very hard in the three-wide path. Next Direction, who had also stalked his foes from the backfield, closed widest of all like a freight train. Driver Iikka Nurmonen was absolutely flying late.
As it shook out, Readly Express was game to win, Makethemark finished second from the pocket, Looking Superb was a very good third, and Next Direction finished a very impressive fourth.
Aubrion Du Gers went to the top early in the second of the opening heats (Race 7) for driver Joseph Verbeeck. The pair dared the competition to come catch them, and that didn’t happen.
Joseph Verbeeck, pictured keeping an eye on his competition as he steers Aubrion Du Gers to victory during the second of the 2019 Elitloppet’s opening heats.
When all was said and done, Aubrion Du Gers and Verbeeck, who had started from Post 1, defeated their seven rivals in convincing fashion. Closers raced for the spoils, but Aubrion Du Gers was much the best in victory. Verbeeck exuded confidence in the post-race interview and appeared very cool and confident heading into the final.
Aubrion Du Gers sparred with Heavy Sound (Kenneth Haugstad) throughout the majority of the race; Heavy Sound raced first-up on the outside, but was unable to sustain his attack into the lane. Aubrion Du Gers had secured the win early in the stretch, at which point it was all about whom else would advance to the final.
After having raced near the back of the pack, the Örjan Kilhström-driven Propulsion closed well to finish second, while the Romain Derieux-steered Dijon also closed well to finish third. Milliondollarrhyme, who was driven by Fredrik Larsson, finished fourth.
For additional information regarding the Elitloppet’s opening heats, click here.