What is the Stockholm Cup International?
First run in the 1930s, the Stockholm Cup has changed venues three times in its history. It arrived at Bro Park, the headquarters of Swedish racing, when the course opened in 2016. Run over 1 1/12 miles for three-year-olds and upwards, this Group 3 contest had a purse of 1,400,000 SEK in 2023. Today's meeting features a further three listed races: the Tattersalls Nickes Minneslöpning over dirt, and the Bro Park Sprint Championship and Lanwades Stud Stakes over turf. We start the day with two jump contests: HM The Queen's Prize over hurdles, and HM The King's Prize over fences.
What's the itinerary?
Flights are included, and you can arrive on Friday or Saturday, checking into your accommodation - the 5* Grand Hotel Stockholm - that evening. Departing by coach for the racecourse on Sunday morning, we arrive at Bro Park to be met for a guided tour of the course's training facilities with its reigning champion trainer. Bro Park holds stabling for over ten trainers. From there, we meet a jockey at the weighing room entrance, before settling into Bro Park's panoramic restaurant for a three-course lunch, and heading into the paddock before the big race. Jump back aboard for the return journey to Stockholm.
What happened in 2023's edition?
Frankie Dettori flew in to Sweden as part of his farewell tour, and we saw a flying dismount from him after the penultimate race, as he steered Takeko to victory in the Lanwades Stud Stakes. Hollie Doyle also tasted success, there was an emphatic victory for this year's Royal Ascot visitor, Duca Di Como, and the feature race was taken by seven-year-old Espen Hill, trained and ridden by Bro Park native Madeleine Smith. Smith had seen off Hollie, Frankie, and 2006 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winning jockey Stéphane Pasquier!
What about drinks with a leading jockey?
On Saturday evening, top jockey Ulrika Holmquist came to see us over drinks at the Grand Hotel. On Sunday morning, after meeting another top jockey, Per Anders Gråberg, we had drinks with the day's owners and trainers under the trees of Bro Park's manor house. Hollie Doyle also stopped by for a chat, and we received an exclusive tipping service from Bro Park's commentator, David Crona.