Hohneck wins Elitloppet in record tying time

Hohneck (Royal Dream) and harness racing driver Gabriele Gelormini were able to lead from start to finish in capturing the 2023 Elitloppet at Solvalla Racecourse in Sweden Sunday (May 28), tying the stakes record for the fastest final heat in a sharp 1.08.9kr (mile rate 1:50.86) over the 1000-meter track. The winner’s share of the purse was 5 million kronor ($450,000 US).

He now sports a career slate of 20-13-11 for 21,283,356SEK earned. He was off at 7.7/1 odds, third choice in the wagering. San Moteur (6m Panne de Moteur) was a game second as the 2.4/1 favorite for Bjorn Goop but he could not gain on Hohneck late in the lane.  Go On Boy (7m Password) was third at 10.2/1 for Romain Derieux.

Onas Prince (6m Chocolatier) parlayed a peg trip for fourth with Per Nordstom up. Etonnant was fifth at 3.3/1 for Anthony Barrier albeit he took a bad step mid-stretch and recovered.

For driver Gabriele Gelormini, it was his first win in the Elitloppet.

“I was very happy with my driver and very happy with my horse today,” said owner-trainer Philippe Allaire. “We took a risk and left his shoes on in the first heat.”

It was a great day for the French trotteurs.

Hohneck was second in his elimination heat.

To read about the eliminations, click here.

The Gr.II Tommy Hannes Lopp (500,000SEK to winner, 1640 meters autostart, four-year-olds) went to rallying Double Deceiver (4g Cantab Hall-Sarcy-Donato Hanover) reined by Orjan Kihlstrom for Stall Zet and trainer Daniel Reden. He now sports a 13-8-1 slate from 27 career starts worth 7,646,155SWK in life earnings. Gio Cash (4m Victor Gio) was second for trainer/driver Dion Tesselaar. Third was Ziva (4f Varenne) with trainer Hans Crebas at the lines.

Mares battled earlier in the Delicious Trot (300,000Sek first prize, 1640 meters autostart) with FR invader Jazzy Perrine (4f Django Riff-Trendy Perrine-Goetmals Woos) the easy winner in a wicked 1.09.0kr (mile rate 1:51.02). Tomas Malmqvist trains this mare for Ecurie Hunter Valley and Bjorn Goop was the pilot as she was 3.8/1 odds in the wagering.

Jazzy now has a 7-8-1 slate in 25 starts for 5,738,397SEK earned. She was off the board in all six previous starts this year and today she was parked first over all the way before flying to the lead in the final bend. Joviality (4f Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face-Muscle Hill) was second for Erik Adielsson after winning her two previous 2023 starts. Unleashed Kemp (4f Wishing Stone-Here Nor There-Muscle Hill) was third for Orjan Kihlstrom.

ATG, Solvalla, Veikkaus, Maharajah harness racing trots files/photos

by Thomas H. Hicks and Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink