The Björn Goop-driven and Richard Westerink-trained Timoko shocked Sweden’s Solvalla Racecourse on Sunday, May 28. The 10-year-old horse upset elimination winners Bold Eagle and Nuncio to capture the illustrious final of the 2017 Elitlopp.
Owned by Richard Westerink of Array, France, Timoko had finished third behind Nuncio in their elimination earlier in the day, but the son of Imoko was much the best in the final.
With Nuncio and Bold Eagle and starting from the rail and Post 2, respectively, Timoko had his work cut out for him, as he started further down the gate in Post 5.
Goop fired Timoko off the gate and went straight to the top. He led his rivals every step of the way. As the field turned for home, two walls of trotters were right there waiting just in case Timoko were to falter, but that was not the case.
Goop threw Timoko into another gear through the lane and started to open up more real estate between himself and his rivals
When it was all said and done, Timoko was much the best, as he fended off all of his seven rivals and posted an open-length victory at the wire.
Goop was clearly feeling the emotion of the big win, as he enthusiastically acknowledged the crowd when he passed under the wire.
Propulsion made a bid for the wire late in the lane, and closed strongly, but was a few lengths short and had to settle for second. Resolve also made a bid in the lane, but had to settle for third.
After having raced to a new European record clocking during his elimination, Bold Eagle could not get it done in the final and finished fourth. Nuncio, who had won his elim, finished fifth.
An emotional Goop crosses the finish line to win the 2017 Elitlopp final at Solvalla Racecourse in Sweden on Sunday, May 28, 2017 (Twitter)
Eliminations are in the books and the post positions have been drawn for the 2017 Elitlopp final, which will head postward today at Solvalla Racecourse in Sweden.
The post positions for the Elitlopp final appear below.
Post – Horse
1 – Nuncio
2 – Bold Eagle
3 – Propulsion
4 – Resolve
5 – Timoko
6 – DDs Hitman
7 – In Vain Sunday
8 – Spring Erom
With driver Örjan Kihlstrom in the sulky for trainer Stefan Melander, Nuncio captured the second of the Elitlopp eliminations in 1:52.4 at Solvalla Racecourse in Sweden on Sunday, May 28.
Propulsion (driven by Johan Untersteiner) finished second, followed by Timoko (Björn Goop) in third and In Vain Sund (Erik Adielsson) in fourth.
From the second elim, Nuncio, Propulsion, Timoko and In Vain Sund all advanced to the final.
Nuncio (on the inside), pictured winning his Elitlopp elimination at Solvalla Racecourse on Sunday, May 28, 2017 (Travronden / Twitter)
On Sunday, May 28, with Franck Nivard driving for trainer Sébastien Guarato, Bold Eagle captured the first elimination of the 2017 Elitlopp at Solvalla Racecourse in Sweden.
After having started from Post 5, Nivard raced first-over with Bold Eagle. The duo put forth a massive effort in the mile, as Bold Eagle was parked for the duration of the race and managed to pull away to an authoritative win in 1:50, a new European record.
In addition to Bold Eagle, Resolve (driven by Ake Svanstedt), DDs Hitman (Orjan Ohlsson) and Spring Erom (Christoffer Eriksson) all advanced to the final from the first elim. John Campbell was driving Tjacko ZAZ in the elim. Tjacko ZAZ made a break early int he race and was disqualified.
Bold Eagle, pictured capturing his Elitlopp elimination at Solvalla Racecourse on Sunday, May 28, 2017 (Micke Gustafsson)
Elitlopp Day 2017 is underway at Solvalla Racecourse in Sweden and Trot Insider is covering the action, which will be highlighted by a pair of eliminations and the final of the prestigious Elitlopp that features some of the sport's upper echelon trotting stars.
The elims will feature a star-studded array of 16 trotters, including two-time Prix D'Amerique winner Bold Eagle; Resolve, winner of the Arthur Cutler Memorial; and Nuncio, who captured two jewels of the Trotting Triple Crown in 2014.
Ontario native John Campbell, who is in the final months of an iconic driving career, is scheduled to drive Tjacko Zaz in the first elimination.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Campbell said earlier this week. “It’s obviously my last time driving in Sweden, so there’s that. Any time you get to go to the Elitlopp it’s special."
Resolve, who was co-bred by Edward Wilson of Seagrave, Ont., is also scheduled to contest the first elimination for his trainer/driver, Åke Svanstedt.
The top four finishers in each of the one-mile elimination heats will gain entrance to the Elitlopp final later on the card. The final will feature a healthy purse of six-million Swedish kronor (approximately C$928,000).
The fields for the eliminations appear below.
Heat 1
1 – Spring Erom (Sweden) – Christoffer Eriksson - Dan Widegren
2 – DDs Hitman (Finland) – Ulf Ohlsson - Petri Puro
3 – Delicious US (Sweden) – Örjan Kihlström - Daniel Redén
4 – Tjacko Zaz (Sweden) – John Campbell - Timo Nurmos
5 – Bold Eagle (France) – Franck Nivard - Sébastien Guarato
6 – Cruzado Dela Noche (Sweden) – Björn Goop - Stefan Melander
7 – Takethem (Denmark) – Steen Juul (trainer/driver)
8 – Resolve (USA) – Åke Svanstedt (trainer/driver)
Heat 2
1 – Up And Quick (France) – Franck Nivard - Franck Leblanc
2 – Twister Bi (Italy) – Christoffer Eriksson - Jerry Riordan
3 – Propulsion (Sweden) – Johan Untersteiner - Daniel Redén
4 – Nuncio (Sweden) – Örjan Kihlstrom - Stefan Melander
5 – In Vain Sund (Sweden) – Erik Adielsson - Daniel Redén
6 – Timoko (France) – Björn Goop - Richard Westerink
7 – Dante Boko (Sweden) – Adrian Kolgjini - Lutfi Kolgjini
8 – Elian Web (Finland) – Janne Soronen - Katja Melkko
Congratulations to all.
Congratulations to all.