The exported Dan Patch Award-winning trotting mare Joviality S is being pointed to the Elitloppet after her connections accepted an invitation over the weekend to Sweden's prestigious race that takes place on the last Sunday in May at Solvalla Race Course.
"She is one of the world's best mares and has shown a toughness and speed that few horses possess," said Solvalla's sports director Anders Malmrot via a translated media release. "I think she will fit perfectly in the Elitloppet."
Owned by Courant Inc., the five-year-old Chapter Seven-Pasithea Face S mare began her fantastic career with Marcus Melander in North America, where she earned more than $2 million in her first two seasons through multiple Grand Circuit victories, including the Breeders Crown and Yonkers Trot.
Last spring, Joviality S was shipped overseas to the stable of Courant Inc. racing manager Sabine Kagebrant in Sweden, where she started with victories in both trials and the final of the Group 1 Drottning Silvias Pokal (Queen Silvia's Trophy). Before the season ended, she had also defeated the boys -- and earned the biggest triumph of her career -- by sprinting to victory in the Group 1 Svenskt Travderby (Swedish Trotting Derby) in fine style. Kagebrant also made history as the first female trainer to win the big race.
Joviality S spent the winter in France, where she finished third in the Group 1 Prix d'Amérique, won by Idao de Tillard (already invited to the Elitloppet).
Joviality S is one of four trotters invited so far to this year's edition and she will be starting in the Elitloppet for the first time.
"As a Solvalla trainer, it is a dream come true," said Kagebrant via translation. "The Elitloppet has always been the biggest event of the year for me and now I have a horse that competes at that level, which feels absolutely fantastic."
The race is the main attraction during the Elitloppet Weekend, which is organized at Solvalla in Stockholm on May 24-26, 2024. The Elitloppet is an invitational race where 16 horses compete in two different trials with eight horses in each. The top four in each trial meet in a final where the winner receives SEK 5 million (approximately $630,000 CAD).
Other horses invited to the 2024 Elitloppet include defending champion Hohneck (France), the aforementioned Idao de Tillard (France) and Francesco Zet (Sweden).
(With files from Elitloppet)