Everyone I’ve talked to seems to have conceded today’s Elitlopp to Buck I St Pat, but that’s a dangerous assumption. Even though there are no superstars in Europe right now, she’s facing some real bearcats at Solvalla today.
True, things look good for her. She’s reportedly in top shape. She drew the rail. A 5/8-mile track is her best oval, her connections say. The mile distance is a sprint for many European horses more accustomed to longer races, but the sprint is all that the American horses know.
After seeing Russel November of The Netherlands swoop the field in the homestretch of the Oslo Grand Prix, I sure wouldn’t rule out a victory by that grandson of Valley Victory. I was also impressed with Triton Sund of Sweden in that race.
I don’t think we saw the best effort of Igor Font, the German-owned son of Andover Hall, in Oslo. Don’t count him out.
And remember how well Enough Talk raced in the Elitlopp last year? He was second in his elim and third in the final. He’s had persistent problems with his heels and trainer Peter Kleinhans----a real good guy with a lot of folks cheering for him----was hampered because the heel ointment he used in the USA is not permitted under strict Swedish rules. But I hear that the trotter’s problems have cleared up and I certainly think he shouldn’t be discounted.
So I view the Elitlopp as wide open. Yeah, it seems that there are some “filler” horses in there to reach the needed 16 starters. I suspect that some won’t be competitive, but I think we could see a dramatic stretch drive in the final with a lot of horses in contention. I hope so---it’s just a couple hours away now.