Road to the Elitloppet
But to return to the matter at hand, and the reason for this post.
The first two horses have been invited to this years edition! And I am here to introduce them to you all.
Go On Boy
The first to be invited is Go On Boy, this 10 year old French horse is the winner of the 2025 edition. He is starting his final season of racing before his mandatory retirement at the end of the 2027 winter season (Feb '27). He is the son of French stallion Password out of the dam Balginette. She is known as dam of another French great, Josh Power (€1.151.370). Trained and driven by Romain Derieux this champion has a lifetime mark of 1.08.4 or 1:50.1f and earned a stunning €2.787.297,-. Among his 21 victories in 74 starts you can find wins in the Elitloppet (2025), the UET Elite Circuit Final, Prix de France, Grand Prix de Wallonie (2x) and Prix de Washington. His best results have all come from the shorter distance of a mile to 2100m. most recently he held up brilliantly after a heavy trip in the Grand Criterium de Vitesse where he finished 3rd in 1.09,0.
"I was very happy with the horse who has improved with every start. My focus has been on the Elitloppet for a long time and I will give him another race before then," says Romain Derieux. "Go On Boy was invited first of all last year as well. I see that as a good omen! The Elitlopp weekend is something you look forward to all year, the atmosphere and the audience are fantastic," says Romain, who also won Elitloppet 2019 with Dijon.
Inexess Bleu
France's best gelding comes to Solvalla.
The French monster Inexess Bleu has accepted a Elitlopp invitation.
As a gelding, eight-year-old Inexess Bleu has been excluded from the large races in France.
Bared from racing in the French Group 1 races, his largest wins come from outside of France, where he won the UET Elite Circuit Final in 2025 and the Grand Prix de Wallonie. Within France he did manage to win multiple stakes at the Group 2 and 3 level. Most notable the Prix Chambon P, Prix Kerjacques and the Prix du Luxembourg. Despite that, he managed to earn €1.274.520,- from 55 starts. 22 of those starts he managed to turn into a win.
With a lifetime mark of 1.09.9 or 1:52.3f, ran over 2100m, he has shown impressive speed. To give some comparison, the world record for aged trotters over the middle distance (2000-2399m) on a 5/8th was set by Francesco Zet in 1.09.4 or 1:51.4f.
"He hasn't had a single race to compete in all winter, but he's been working well and was quite well prepared for today's race without being close to top form. We will give him two more races before we go to Solvalla. We are really grateful for the invitation," said trainer Laurent Claude Abrivard before Inexxess' first start since November 2025 in the Prix du Bois de Vincennes. A Group 3 stake where he had a 25m handicap over 2875m, just over 1 and 3/4 mi, where he finished 6th.
Another horse was invited today:
Jobspost
The 7 year old Readly Express son is owned by the in the US known Stall Courant AB. As a winner of 19 races in 31 starts, Jobspost is no stranger to the winner's circle. However impressive the amount of wins look on his racing result, he has yet to face off against the best of the best. Perhaps best known for his current streak of 3 wins at Vincennes during the winter, where he earned around US$96,619 since December. This brings his total earnings to US$327,848 with a mark of 1:52.1.
"Jobspost has that exciting element that he has not faced the best and has not shown where his limit goes. I think most people agree that the last races on French soil are Elitlopp class" says Solvalla's sports manager Ola Lernå.
What makes Jobspost a Elitlopp horse?
"He's never lost a hand-to-hand fight, has he? There are many times when you feel defeated, but Jobspost has saved the day. His attitude impresses me immensely," says trainer Jörgen Westholm.
Another day, another invite, meet
A Fair Day
The 7 year old Maharajah gelding A Fair Day stands out in so many ways. Trained by a retired after-school teacher, driven by a demolition worker, and loved by the general public. The brothers A Fair Day and Maroon Day have delighted the trotting public for several years.
Both are trained by the Kalmar amateur Elisabeth Almheden, whose favorites in the stable go by the nicknames ”Affe” and ”Rooney”. ”Affe” was the best all-Swedish team in Elitloppet last year with his fourth place. A Fair Day was fourth in the C Th Ericsson Memorial at Solvalla last weekend. With this invite he is set to make its third appearance in Elitloppet.
His biggest win came at 4 when A Fair Day took home the 4yo Swedish Breeders Crown (Gr. 1). Other stake wins include the C.L. Müllers Memorial (Gr. 2) twice, the Prins Carl Philips Jubileumspokal. In his 53 starts A Fair Day took the win in 27 of those. Banking around $685.500 in his career and posting a mark of 1:51.1.
"I've been dreaming about Elitloppet since we went home last year. This is something so few people get to experience," says Elisabeth Almheden. "It feels fantastic and I have to say that Elitloppet is an experience that you wish everyone could be a part of, just to be invited is a highlight in itself."