A name very familiar to North American harness racing has been added to Sweden's famed Elitlopp set for next Sunday...but a plan to reunite him with his most familiar driver will not come to fruition.
Reports from Sweden indicate that Nuncio, who came within a half-length of winning trotting's Triple Crown in 2014, will race in the 2015 Elitlopp. Trainer-owner Stefan Melander had expressed interest in bringing driver John Campbell over to drive but Trot Insider has learned that will not happen as he's committed to drive Muscle Diamond in the New Jersey Sire Stakes Final on May 30 -- the night before the Elitlopp.
"I'd love to go but we've put a lot of planning and work into Muscle Diamond and I want to stay on top of him, pointing him toward the Hambletonian," Campbell told Trot Insider on Friday. "He's a nice horse and that's what we're hoping for: that he can play with the big boys in August."
Nuncio won 16 of 27 starts as a two- and three-year-old with earnings in excess of $1.9 million. As a four-year-old in Sweden the son of Andover Hall has won both of his efforts thus far.
The field for the 2015 Elitlopp is still being filled in with 15 of 16 spots confirmed. Invited horses thus far include: Timoko, Maven, On Track Piraten, Wind Of The North, B.B.S.Sugarlight, Support Justice, Nahar, Voltigeur de Myrt, Magic Tonight, Univers de Pan, Nuncio, Ustinof du Vivier, Mosaique Face, Royal Fighter and Bret Boko.