V75/The Paralympic Trot (jackpot): Ready to defend his title
Last year, he won in superior style.
This year, he is even better.
Önas Prince is ready to defend his title in the Paralympic Trot.
The Paralympic Trot, formerly the Olympic Trot, has been raced since 1979. Three horses have managed to win the prestigious race in back-to-back years, three giants in the history of trotting. The first one to do it was the mare Queen L., who won in 1993-1994. Copiad won the following two years, and Gidde Palema won three years in a row, 2003-2005. This year, Önas Prince (V75-7) can join that exclusive trio.
"It would be huge to defend the title, and we will do all we can to succeed. Önas Prince is usually excellent in the springtime, and I think he will race well on Saturday," says the top trotter's trainer, Per Nordström.
Even better this year
In his most recent start, Önas Prince held on strongly to finish second after a slow start and a trip outside of A Fair Day. On Saturday, the tactic is different.
"If I could redo his last start, I would have left with him. We would have taken the lead, A Fair Day would have had to race on the outside, and we would have won the race. This time I plan to go pedal to the metal toward the lead, and then I won't let anyone go."
When Önas Prince won the Paralympic Trot last year, he moved to the lead after the first turn, following a furious start. This year, he starts from a much better spot, post two.
"The post position couldn't be better. If I had the chance, I would have chosen post two. He came out of his last start very well and feels much looser and smoother compared to last year. He is sound and healthy in every way, and I'm very pleased with how he feels."
If that wasn't enough, Önas Prince will get an equipment change for this start.
"He will race with a pull-down bridle, and we will return to an American sulky. When he raced in it earlier, it was a bit tight, and he touched it. We have a wider model now that he fits in. It usually doesn't make that much of a difference, but if it makes him a tenth of a second faster, I'll take it on Saturday."
It's a star-studded field that will battle for the SEK 1.5 million first prize in the Paralympic Trot. Hardly any driver will enter the track as confidently as Per Nordström.
"Everything feels great, and I wouldn't trade horses with anyone."