The track builder Peter Lundström promised in advance a track that made room for good sport and a wow feeling.
With hindsight, it might have been a bit too much of a wow feeling.
When all 36 crews had done their part, only four made it to the jump-off.
None of them were Swedish - even though eleven made it to the start.
- This was a tough World Cup, one of the toughest I've seen actually, says SVT's commentator AnnaMaria Fredholm.
But despite that, there was at least one Swedish source of joy.
Wilma Hellström's tenth place was enough for a place among the 18 who will settle in the World Cup final in American Omaha this Easter.
- Now I'm starting to get a little into it, I was very disappointed when I came out but now it feels wonderful, says Hellström to SVT Sport.
She went on to pay tribute to her horse Cicci Bjn.
- Cicci has been very consistent and it feels like our lowest level has become higher and that feels promising.
She is absolutely my everything, I can't even imagine a life without Cicci, says Hellström.
The world champion crew Henrik von Eckermann and King Edward were greeted by great cheers when they rode out as the seventh crew.
It looked good at first, but when they got a little too close to a sparse railing in the middle of the court, there was a bit of a sloppy impact, which was followed by another and a total of eight faults.
However, von Eckermann can take comfort in the fact that he has already qualified for the final in Omaha.
The Frenchman Marc Dilasser and the horse Arioto du Gevres won today's competition.