Solvalla: Record performance by Horsy Dream in Eltiloppet

Horsy Dream, a 7-year-old French stallion, put on two powerhouse performances in the 2024 Elitloppet on Sunday at Solvalla Racecourse in Stockholm, first winning his elimination despite a wide trip and then the final in 1:49 2/5, the fastest mile ever trotted in Europe.

The eliminations went to French invaders Go On Boy (Romain Derieux) and Horsy Dream (Eric Raffin), setting the stage for the final that also included defending champion Hohneck, who is also from France. Completing the finalists were Italians Capital Mail and Denver Gio, plus Swedes Francesco Zet, Borups Victory and Ônas Prince. Go On Boy won his elimination in 1:50 3/5, while Horsy Dream was a 1:51 victor.

In the final, Francesco Zet was driven aggressively by Örjan Kihlström and took the lead away from Denver Gio (Björn Goop) past the opening quarter. When Francesco Zet cleared, that left Ônas Prince (Per Nordström) parked first-over, with Raffin grabbing that cover to sit second-over with Horsy Dream.

Francesco Zet continued to show the way once he had command, but Raffin pulled the trigger with Horsy Dream three-wide as they raced in the backstretch for the final time, and a powerful brush carried him up to and then around Francesco Zet early on the far turn. It was all Horsy Dream from there as he never looked back and won by open lengths over Borups Victory (Daniel Wäjersten), with Denver Gio third. Francesco Zet faded to fourth and Hohneck (Gabriele Gelormini) was fifth.

"Ever since I started driving the horse, I've always felt this horse was special and full of class," said Raffin via translator Irina Denoual of Equidia. "The trainer always respects the horse and he always will. The horse was great in the Prix de l'Atlantique (his final prep in France).

"It's the greatest win of my career."

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

For the elimination Horsy Dream raced with shoes on, but they were taken off for the final, an equipment adjustment that obviously worked out very well.

"Trust me, we'll go with the shoes in the elimination race, get us to the final, and then we'll pull the shoes," said trainer Pierre Belloche, via translator Kristin Riise Ødegård, about the communication he was having with Raffin regarding his decision. Raffin had wanted to pull the horse's back shoes off for the elimination.

A 7-year-old stallion by Scipion du Goutier, Horsy Dream is trained by Belloche for owner Ecurie du Closet. This was Horsy Dream's 21st career win, he has now earned SEK 14,563,887 (USD$1,340,496).

"This is a magical and such a beautiful place," said Jean-Marie Deschamps, who bred Horsy Dream and races him as Ecurie du Closet, via Ødegård. "This is a dream come true and the horse carries his name well.

"I've always said this is a special horse and I haven't been lying."