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."
As I sit on the beach in Valencia, sipping my sangria it dawned on me. This weekend is Elitloppet weekend.
I completely forgot to introduce the rest of the invited horses to y'all. My apologies.
Försök 1 (Heat 1)
1 Luke The Spook - Sweden
A Familiar name to those who have read my breakdown of the Monis Tied Up pedigree! The 5yo son of Greenshoe is a half brother to Iglare AM. With 8 wins from 35 starts and 2,639,370 SEK made. He sports a lifetime mark of 1:51.1. “Luke the Spook has been good, but it still doesn’t feel like we’ve seen his entire register" says Solvalla’s sporting director Ola Lernå.
2 Diva EK - Italy
The 7yo daughter of Trixton is a true globetrotter. She spurred furiously to second place at Yonkers in the International Trot behind Lexus Kody. With a mark of 1:52.2 and €674.832 made, she sports wins in the 2025 Copenhagen Cup, the 2025 Prijs der Giganten (One of the biggest stakes in my country) and this year the C.Th. Ericssons Memorial and the Finlandia-Ajo.
3 Charron - Norway
The big breakthrough for Charron came in the final of Norwegian sprinters championship, the Jarlsberg Grand Prix. And followed it up with a somewhat sensational victory in the Norwegian Derby where the giant favourite Just Like Heaven was banished to second place. Charron has continued to develop and made it to the Elitloppet last year. After a winter in France, he has matured, is stronger and again the Norwegian hope as a Elitloppet participant.
4 Don Fanucci Zet - Sweden
Obviously most well known for being the uncle to Oak Grove Trotting Oaks champion Jailbird Jog. This 3/4 brother to her mother will make his sixth Elitloppet appearance. Showing tremendous longevity. He made the Elitloppet entry list by winning the E-Races points competition handily. Now a 10yo stallion with 35 wins from 68 starts. He was a winner in 2021, he was runner up in 2025. A winner of over $2.500.000 and a true champion.
5 Idao de Tillard - France
The Prix d'Amerique winner of 2024 and 2025 is finally back healthy and ready to rock! Prepared since March of this year, Idao de Tillard finally found the winners circle again in the Prix de l'Antique at Enghien. One of the best trotters of the last few years in Europe. “At the peak of its ability, I don’t think there’s a horse in the world that beats Idao de Tillard. I would love to have a horse with that capacity,” says Solvalla’s sporting director Ola Lernå.
6 Dream Mine - Sweden
5 years old, 13 wins from 18 starts, and well over a million dollars made. Dream Mine became the biggest star last year winning the Swedish and European Trotting Derby's. Dream Mine now looks to face the top aged trotters in Europe. He however will start the Elitloppet elimination with only 1 start in him this year. Will that be sufficient to reach the final and make a bid for the win?
7 Keep Going - France
The best 4yo in France in 2024, winning both the Criterium des 4 Ans and the Criterium Continental. “Keep Going is violently quick to be French. His greatest success has come over, by French standards, shorter distances and I think he will run eerily fast at Solvalla. Keep Going makes his first appearance in life over 1,609 meters." says Solvalla’s sporting director Ola Lernå. The son of Follow You has 11 wins from 45 starts and sports a mile rated mark of 1:51.2 over 2100m.
8 Borups Victory - Sweden
2nd in 2024, 5th in 2025. Can 2026 be the first win for Borups Victory? “Borus Victory has repeatedly shown that he belongs to the world elite and it is a completely complete horse that has won a big race from the top, from behind and by doing the job himself. He has his obvious place on the last Sunday in May." says Solvalla’s sporting director Ola Lernå.
Försök 2 (Heat 2)
1 Gio Cash - Netherlands
A personal favourite of yours truly, I have watched this German-bred champion train down in my country since he was 2yo. Gio Cash broke through seriously when he won the Breeders Course final in September as a two-year-old at Jägersro. Gio Cash started his career at Dion Tesselaar in the Netherlands, but Daniel Wäjersten took over training in the winter of 2024-2025. And Gio Cash has taken the step into the worlds elite. Last year the horse won Norrbotten's Grand Prix, ran 1.08.5 (1:50.1) when he defeated Don Fanucci Zet in the Årjängs Stora Sprinterlopp and was stuck behind Lexus Kody in the International Trot at Yonkers. He'll receive the help of Dexter Dunn in his attempt to make the final.
2 Allegiant - Sweden
The wonder mare from the United States. It has been 28 years since the last winning mare. A little known mare named Moni Maker. Will this daughter of Tactical Landing be next? Allegiant doesn't know what it feels like to lose on Swedish soil. Since coming to Sweden in 2025 she has won 5 times in 5 starts. No big wins among those starts, but every win looked mightily impressive.
3 Jabalpur - Italy
When Jabalpur won the Prix René Balliere last year, Elite race winner Go On Boy and Critérium de Vitesse winner Iguski Sautonne were defeated. But it was the victory time that caused everyone to raise their eyebrows; 1.08,7a/2.100 meters is the fastest note any horse performed over the middle distance. And Jabalpur showed it was not a fluke by later winning the Gran Premio Nazioni in Milan before Inexess Bleu. Jabalpur has an international character. The horse is French-born, trained by father Alain and son Arnaud Chavette in France, but is driven by Italian Gabriele Gelormini and owned by Dario Trasi and his Tramontom SRL in Italy.
4 Fine Manners - Finland
He has less on the bankroll than several of the other participants have earned in a single race. Roughly $156,000 USD. Fine Manners comes to the Elitloppet with 16 victories in 20 starts and his speed has enchanted many – especially the horse’s trainer Mattias Djuse.
“It’s undoubtedly the fastest horse I’ve trained. He has felt incredibly nice in the training and on Thursday he was amazing! After a brief discussion with the owner, we agreed to try if the chance was given, says Mattias Djuse. But a silver horse in the Elitloppet? What can you have for any hopes?
We are in to win. Otherwise, I would not have accepted the ticket, says Mattias Djuse with an oblique smile.
5 Go On Boy - France
Go On Boy has become ten years old and now chooses his battles. But the focus has been on the Elitloppet in May. It is Go On Boys' fourth appearance in the Elitloppet, he won in 2025 and was second in 2023. Go On Boy has also won the UET Elite Circuit Final and been second in Prix d’Amérique.
6 A Fair Day - Sweden
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.
7 Inexess Bleu - France
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. He comes into the elimination of back to back wins in France. He looks primed for a great performance this Sunday.
8 Jobpost - Sweden
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 32 starts, Jobspost is no stranger to the winner's circle. His first real test came on May 16 this year where he raced in the MileMästaren to finish second behind Barack Face. However ahead of Double Deceiver and A Fair Day.
Who do you think wins the 2026 Elitloppet?
