The sports director at Solvalla racetrack has shown a great desire to continue bringing Australia’s standout squaregaiters to Sweden for Elitloppet.
Anders Malmrot spoke with Harness Racing Victoria’s Ryan Phelan during a tour of the Stockholm facility this week and said the Aussies were seen as an important part of the iconic race.
The Jess Tubbs-prepared Just Believe will become only the third Australian-trained horse to compete in Elitloppet when he steps out for his heat on Sunday, following in the footsteps of Maori Time (2018) and Sundons Gift (2009) before him.
“We see our horses compete 364 days a year, but when it comes to the Elitlopp I want to have the Australian horse, I want to have the horse from France, from Italy,” Malmrot said.
“That makes the sport bigger and we can talk about it in all of the countries.
“For us, for Solvalla and for the sport, it's great to have an Australian horse here.”
Just Believe is a $300 outsider in Elitloppet 2023 and Phelan asked Malmrot his thoughts on commentary that suggested it wasn’t worth traveling to Sweden if you couldn’t win the race.
"My view is that we open up for everyone to see, for Australian horse lovers to see their horse come here to Sweden and what they can do,” he said.
“It's possible to make a great race in Australia and get invited here to the Elitlopp. I think that's what it all is about.”
Just Believe will step out in his Elitloppet heat at 11.28pm AEST.
He has drawn wide in barrier seven and needs a top four finish to progress to the final, which is scheduled for 1.45am AEST.
Full coverage of the meeting will be on TrotsVision and Sky Racing, with Luke Humphreys trackside to call all the action.
WATCH PHELAN AND MALMROT TOUR SOLVALLA BELOW:
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