Wide gate threatens to derail The Locomotive in Elitlopp heat in Sweden
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sydney Inter Dominion champion The Locomotive is ready for one of the biggest challenges in harness racing.
The Goulburn-based star will have to overcome a horror barrier draw and some of the best trotters in the world to create history in Sweden on Sunday.
The Locomotive will start second from the outside (gate seven) in the second of two heats of the world's best trotting race, the iconic Elitlopp at the Solvalla track in Stockholm.
His trainer-driver Brad Hewitt is clear on the enormity of the challenge.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
'We knew it was always going to be hard, but now he's drawn so wide, it's going to take something incredible from him to qualify for the final,' he said.
The Locomotive is the fifth Australian and ninth Australasian trotter to contest the Elitlopp. No Aussie has made the final and the only Kiwi to do so was former champion mare Pride Of Petite when fourth in a heat and sixth in the 1997 final.
Most recently, champion Aussie Just Believe loomed as a top four chance on the final bend before striking trouble, galloping and losing all chance in 2023. He later stamped his class with two Group 1 placings in Sweden.
The Locomotive will need a top four finish in his heat to qualify for the final run three hours later. He is a $71 shot in the heat.
It's the stronger of the two heats as well with boom trotter Borups Victory $2.80 equal favourite ahead of two former Elitlopp winners, Don Fanucci Zet ($2.80) and Hohneck ($4.50).
The statistics underline how cruel the draw is for The Locomotive, who has won 23 of 25 starts when he has led and just one of 17 when he hasn't been in front.
• 'What else am I going to do?' My Last Hooray no last hurrah for Cleary
'I'm going to be back last, I can't possibly push forward from right out there,' Hewitt said.
'What I will say is, he works well off a sit at home and I haven't had the chance to drive him that way yet. When he hasn't led for me, he's been outside the leader and he won't be there this time.
'I'm hoping he can show all that trademark speed of his at the finish, if we switch him off early and try to weave through them.'
Hewitt draws hope from how well The Locomotive has settled in and worked over the past week.
'I don't think I could have him better. It's all come together in time and he's primed. He had that terrific work at Solvalla last week and then I couldn't have been happier with his last serious hit out on Monday,' he said.
'I've got a lot of faith in the horse, but he's never faced a field like this and he's going to need everything to go right.
'At least there's no pressure now. If we could somehow be the first (Aussie) to make the final, it would be amazing.'
The Locomotive's heat will be shown on Sky Racing at 11.55pm Sunday.
- Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
Originally published as Star Australian trotter The Locomotive has a horror barrier in the toughest heat to qualify for the prestigious Elitlopp in Stockholm
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
Goulburn, Muswellbrook best bets, inside mail for Friday, June 13, 2025
Form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets and analysis of the Quaddie legs at Goulburn and Muswellbrook on Friday. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ GOULBURN BEST BET Race 1 No. 3: LET'S GO BRANDON Easy winner of a high quality Maiden here last start. Go well. NEXT BEST Race 3 No. 7: YVETTE Resumes. Placed at Canterbury at only two at the first prep. VALUE Race 2 No. 8: EVERLASTING STARS Won here first-up, fourth in town after that, good last time too. QUADDIE Race 5: 2, 5, 6 Race 6: 2 Race 7: 3, 4, 9 Race 8: 4, 6, 9 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Four kilo claimer DALE COLE could be in for a big day. Apprentice Dale Cole has a nice rides at Goulburn. Picture: Bradley Photos MUSWELLBROOK BEST BET Race 6 No. 9: BELLINI SPRITZ Done nothing wrong on all three starts. Loaded with promise. NEXT BEST Race 8 No. 10: TANGLEWOOD JIMMY Could run over the top of these late. Has talent. VALUE Race 1 No. 7: GHAZNAVI Winless after 15 starts. deserves one more chance here. INSIDE MAIL - GOULBURN RACE 5: KIRK'S BRIDGE FARM BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1500m DOWNTOWN'S ABBEY (5) has raced here at home three times for a win and a second. That win came at her last start back on April 28 and it was also over this trip. Got a tres bien by Pierre Boudvillain from gate 1 that day. Hopefully barrier 10 of 10 isn't overly detrimental here. In-form MIDNIGHT LUNA (2) may well be saved for this weekend's Highway. The best form of the Pat Murphy-trained local GOOFINATOR (6) is good enough to get onto the podium somewhere. Bet: Downtown's Abbey to win RACE 6: HOMEBASE REAL ESTATE MAIDEN PLATE 1500m LIMBURG (2) was sold for $1 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2022. Fast forward to May 2024 and the son of Justify (and half to Loving Gaby) was snapped up for $11,000. Two runs for Joe Pride at the provincials point to an imminent win. RUDBECKIA (4) faced a Heavy 9 at Bathurst first-up (must forgive). Two runs at the first preparation include a third to Let's Fly at Kembla albeit eight and a half behind her. Bet: Limburg to win, Daily Double 1st leg 2, 2nd Leg 4 RACE 7: JEWELL BUILDERS BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1300m SPIRITS BURN DEEP (4) is bred, owned and trained by one of the industry's great all-rounders in Neil Osborne. This daughter of Deep Field has a win at the same track and distance. She was second to Chemtrail here on May 8 before a below par Highway run on May 24. Kudos to the Green Brothers Racing for their $6,000 yearling buy KILLER KERR (3) who has won $106,000 with more to come. Only needs to repeat her May 30 effort here and she probably wins. Bet: Spirits Burn Deep each-way, quinella 2, 4 RACE 8: RADIO GOULBURN COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1200m THOUGHTFUL (4) is a sparingly-raced five-year-old with just five starts on his resume; one win, one second, one third and one fourth to Highway Strip here too. He seems to be a naturally talented horse and so he should be given he's a close relative of Happy Clapper, Thankgodyou'rehere and others. Fluctuations might tell a story here. You wouldn't find too many outright deeper races than pretty much every single one that WINNIE FORTUNE (8) has contested and run especially well in. Bet: Thoughtful to win, box trifecta 1, 4, 6, 9 INSIDE MAIL - MUSWELLBROOK RACE 5: COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1280m ZELESTIAL (5) was a barber-shop tip when she made her long coming Australian debut on a very wet Taree track on May 20. Masterful training performance by Lyle Chandler, masterful ride by Donovan Dillon too. Pros; beat a subsequent winner and is handy. Cons; second-up off a long break. It's easy to see that Solitario is a young three-year-old on the way up. Races in the colours of his grandam, Ortensia too. Bullock, box two. DASH BY (6) could sprint well fresh. Bet: Zelestial to win, quinella 2, 5 RACE 6: BENGALLA CUP SUN 27 JULY BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1450m BELLINI SPRITZ (9) is a stablemate of the aforementioned Solitario and what was said about him, we could cut and paste for this Arrowfield-owned and bred daughter of Dundeel out of a Snitzel mare. Only win was at the same trip last prep. Good first-up, Bullock, gate five. FULL COMMITMENT (12) has finished with a medal at six of her 10 runs. Note that her only win thus far came second-up as she is here. One day YOU HAVE TO GO (14) is going to run over the top of a field. Bet: Belle Spritz to win, exacta 9 / 12, You Have To Go to place, DD 1st Leg 9, 2nd Leg 19 RACE 7: MAGIC MILLIONS BENCHMARK 82 HANDICAP 1500m REBEL'S EDGE (5) commemorated his 53rd start with a Wingham Cup win on June 5. That was his fourth run back with Cassandra Stummer and all have been good after a short stint in Queensland. ARTFUL PERSUASION (6) has raced 12 times, eight at Kembla as it happens, most of them good. One of his 'away runs' was in the Four Pillars where he finished 10th of the 20 runners. KNIFE'S EDGE (1) won the Parkes Cup last start. Bet: Rebel's Edge each-way RACE 8: ROBSON CIVIL BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP 1280m TANGLEWOOD JIMMY (10), a third generation descendant of bonny 1990s' mare Western Chorus, has raced nine times for two wins and two placings. One of those placings was here at Muswellbrook. The wins were over 1450m and a mile but he is one of those horses who could just launch himself late over the top here. A POUND OF SALT (1) was rewarded with a very well-earned and overdue Highway win last start. That's three wins inside his last six starts now. Bet: Tanglewood Jimmy to win, quinella 1, 10, box First 4 Nos. 1, 2, 4, 9, 10 GOULBURN BEST BET Race 1 No. 3: Let's Go Brandon Easy winner of a high quality Maiden here last start. Go well. NEXT BEST Race 3 No. 7: Yvette Resumes. Placed at Canterbury at only two at the first prep. VALUE Race 2 No. 8: Everlasting Stars Won here first-up, fourth in town after that, good last time too. QUADDIE Race 5: 2,5,6 Race 6: 2 Race 7: 3,4,9 Race 8: 4,6,9 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Four kilo claimer Dale Cole could be in for a big day. MUSWELLBROOK BEST BET Race 6 No. 9: Bellini Spritz Done nothing wrong on all three starts. Loaded with promise. NEXT BEST Race 8 No. 10: Tanglewood Jimmy Could run over the top of these late. Has talent. VALUE Race 1 No. 7: Ghaznavi Winless after 15 starts. deserves one more chance here.
West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
World Test Championship: Aussie fans left frustrated as review overturned on Temba Bavuma
An early review from South African captain Temba Bavuma has fired up aggrieved Aussie fans on the second morning of the World Test Championship Final at Lord's. Australia started the day in prime position despite crumbling to 212 all out on day one, having reduced the Proteas' top order to 4-43. However, it was not enough for fans as it became five down, Bavuma appearing to miss a ball from Josh Hazlewood that nipped back into his pads. Umpire Chris Gaffney needed little convincing of the LBW shout, raising the finger and prompting Australian celebrations. The South African skipper hesitated before calling the review late. As the replays rolled, Snicko technology showed a noise as the red Dukes ball passed Bavuma's inside edge, third umpire Richard Kettleborough convinced it was enough to overturn the dismissal, saving Bavuma. But Australian fans fumed, the replays showing a gap between bat and ball with Bavuma's white-wrapped off stump visible between the two. One X account said: 'If the third umpire used his two eyes he would see it was obvious the bloke missed the ball. Incompetence seems to run through ICC umpires.' Bavuma made the most of the reprieve, starting to take the attack to the favourites after South Africa's placid efforts in the final hour of the opening day nearly undid their bowlers' hard work. He and David Bedingham combined for a 64-run partnership, having guided the Proteas to the drinks break without loss. The Aussies would not be held down, though, as under-pressure batter Marnus Labuschagne showed his worth in the field with a nice diving catch at cover to remove the captain for 36 off the bowling of Pat Cummins. Bavuma had hit Cummins for a six in his previous over. Approaching lunch, South Africa trailed Australia's first innings by 113 runs with Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne at the crease.
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
Bavuma review leaves Aussie fans frustrated
An early review from South African captain Temba Bavuma has fired up aggrieved Aussie fans on the second morning of the World Test Championship Final at Lord's. Australia started the day in prime position despite crumbling to 212 all out on day one, having reduced the Proteas' top order to 4-43. However, it was not enough for fans as it became five down, Bavuma appearing to miss a ball from Josh Hazlewood that nipped back into his pads. Umpire Chris Gaffney needed little convincing of the LBW shout, raising the finger and prompting Australian celebrations. The South African skipper hesitated before calling the review late. As the replays rolled, Snicko technology showed a noise as the red Dukes ball passed Bavuma's inside edge, third umpire Richard Kettleborough convinced it was enough to overturn the dismissal, saving Bavuma. But Australian fans fumed, the replays showing a gap between bat and ball with Bavuma's white-wrapped off stump visible between the two. One X account said: 'If the third umpire used his two eyes he would see it was obvious the bloke missed the ball. Incompetence seems to run through ICC umpires.' Bavuma made the most of the reprieve, starting to take the attack to the favourites after South Africa's placid efforts in the final hour of the opening day nearly undid their bowlers' hard work. He and David Bedingham combined for a 64-run partnership, having guided the Proteas to the drinks break without loss. The Aussies would not be held down, though, as under-pressure batter Marnus Labuschagne showed his worth in the field with a nice diving catch at cover to remove the captain for 36 off the bowling of Pat Cummins. Bavuma had hit Cummins for a six in his previous over. Approaching lunch, South Africa trailed Australia's first innings by 113 runs with Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne at the crease.
