Pretty King and Niklas Lovén left the competitors far behind in the Swedish Grand National.
Pretty King and Monsieur Vic shine at Strömsholm's Swedish Grand National Day
17 June 2024 19:18
On June 15, approximately 3,500 spectators gathered at Österängen in Strömsholm for the 53rd edition of the EMC Swedish Grand National. The Czech entrant, Pretty King, clinched an impressive victory in the Swedish Grand National, while Monsieur Vic solidified his status as the country’s premier hurdler with a win in the Swedish Champion Hurdle.
Pretty King, a five-year-old gelding from Grzegorz Wroblewski's stable in the Czech Republic, dominated the course in his debut at the Swedish Grand National. Veteran Swedish jockey Niklas Lovén was in the saddle.
Niklas Lovén, who will turn 55 later this year, rode his first Grand National in 1991 and has now claimed his fourth victory in the event.
"It's taken some time to accumulate four wins, but things are finally coming together. It's not easy to win here!" said Niklas.
The Swedish Grand National is not only Sweden’s largest steeplechase but also its most challenging.
"Pretty King is only five years old. I didn't want to rush him to the front and had to work with him over the first lap. But he definitely could have sustained a faster pace, and he clearly had energy to spare. When the other competitors began to falter, we took the lead, and Pretty King was able to jump the last four hurdles completely unchallenged," said Niklas Lovén.
Grzegorz Wroblewski, who began his training career in Sweden, celebrated his third victory in the Swedish Grand National.
"Pretty King has a bright future. He was a bit unlucky in his last few starts, but he is capable of much more, and I never gave up," said the trainer.
Monsieur Vic regains title
In the Autoexperten Swedish Champion Hurdle, Monsieur Vic reaffirmed his position as the country’s top hurdler with an impressive victory.
The gelding, trained by Sigyn Dysell, has dominated Swedish hurdle racing for the past few years. Although he did not race in last year's edition of the Swedish Champion Hurdle, he replicated his 2022 performance and reclaimed the title, this time under jockey Kevin Parkin.
"Monsieur Vic has been unusually cooperative lately, and we were a bit unsure about his form. But this horse has an extraordinary racing mind and loves to win," said Sigyn Dysell after the victory.
