V75® (Tuesday): Wäjersten sends out a full dozen in the Derby eliminations
Last year, Daniel Wäjersten won both the Swedish Criterium and the Swedish Oaks.
Bullet the BlueSky and Vivillion became the king and queen of their crop.
Naturally, the stars will be on hand for Tuesday’s elimination races for the Swedish Trotting Derby and the Mare Derby.
When Daniel Wäjersten made trotting history last year by winning Sweden’s biggest races for three-year-olds, he was thrilled and celebrated with a spectacular victory gesture, throwing away his whip:
"My God, I don’t know what to say. Only people like Timo Nurmos win both races, not someone like me," said Daniel Wäjersten after the huge success.
The Bergsåker trainer has an exceptionally strong 2021 crop.
Ahead of Tuesday’s eliminations for the Swedish Trotting Derby and the Mare Derby, Wäjersten is sending out twelve horses. Ten of them will start in the Derby eliminations (the most of any stable) and two in the Mare Derby eliminations.
Rehearsed with a Swedish Record
Derby favorite Bullet the BlueSky has raced three times this year and showed top form in his most recent outing when he won the Norrland Grand Prix in a new Swedish record, trotting 1:10.3 over 2,140 meters.
"It was a very good sign ahead of the upcoming races. Of course, it was impressive. He kept a high pace all the way to the finish line, so I’m very pleased with him. He might have been even better than I expected, and I think he will improve further. Earlier this year, he has been a bit lazy in the races, but with three starts under his belt, he really showed great energy," Wäjersten said in the winner’s circle.
Vivillion also comes to the Mare Derby elimination with a win behind her. The star mare has raced six times this year and finished second in the Queen’s Trophy in May. Most recently, she led all the way to victory in a Breeders Crown race on Gotland.
"That felt very good, I must say. She was strong in the Queen’s Trophy, a bit weaker in the Sprint Championship for mares, but today she was alert and sharp right from the start. That was the most pleasing part," said Wäjersten after the prep race.
Daniel Wäjersten’s assistant trainer, Oskar Florhed, on the stable’s horses:
"4 Bullet the BlueSky (V75-1) has been aimed completely at the Derby and the Grand Prix de l'UET, as it’s the owners’ dream. That’s why we’ve deliberately managed him carefully to avoid too many races early on. Everything has worked out perfectly, and his last performance showed we have him exactly where we want. It was the first time the driver had to pull the earplugs on him, and there wasn’t much of an effect, but the horse was probably already going as fast as he could. When we tried them in training last year, it had a great effect, but we never needed to use that in an actual race. This time he’ll race with the same optimal equipment again. The only possible change could be from a full blind bridle to a can't-see-back, depending on how aggressive he is. His preparation has been perfect and the draw is excellent, so of course, we believe strongly in him."
"8 Lando Mearas (V75-1) had the Sprint Championship as his big goal of the season, but he unfortunately made a break there. We’ve tried to get him back in top form, and he feels really good. He is very strong at home, though maybe not a natural stayer. The post position is tough since he isn’t very quick at the start. No major changes planned, he's too hot to race with a blind bridle from start, we might race him with a can't-see-back or some form of blind on the inside, depending on how he feels that day. He’s a bit nervous, so the overnight stay could be a concern. Normally, he can’t beat Bullit, but if things work out from this post, he’s not without a chance of fighting for a spot in the final."
"3 Good Lord (V75-2) is a real diesel engine who benefits from longer distances and has had the Derby as his main target all season. Daniel was a bit disappointed with him last time as he was rather sluggish, but I think the frequent starts could do him good, and we’ve really tried to have him peak for this race. I sat behind him in his final workout today (Sunday), and I have to say he felt really good, clearly on the positive side. We also tried pullouts for the first time and he responded well, so it will be the first time he races with them on Tuesday. The horse does have a weakness in that he tends to get doubled up early on, so we can’t really push him at the start, and that’s also why we don’t dare use a blind bridle. Hopefully he can drop into a good position instead. Björn Goop feels like the perfect driver to keep him sharp all the way, and the horse has the strength to reach the final if things go his way. In any case, he should be ready for his best performance yet."
"10 Lionel Mearas (V75-2) we tried with a blind bridle last time, which made him a bit too fired up. It turned into a real blowout, but he seems to have handled it well as he’s trained nicely afterwards. Now we’re going back to a pull-down bridle, which he’s had before, and we’ll also take a considerable amount of weight off of him. He’s raced with heavy steel shoes his entire career, but now it’s time to try aluminum to make him quicker. He enjoys long distances, and I think the course of the race will decide which of our two finishes ahead here."
"1 Elvis T.C.B. (V75-3) we weren’t entirely satisfied with last time. Everything has been normal in training afterwards, but it’s possible he might be in a bit deep this time. Still, the draw is good and anything can happen. We’re switching back to a blind bridle this time, as he’s been racing with a pull-down bridle lately, to get him a bit more fired up. We’ll probably have to race him a bit conservatively and see how far it takes him."
"4 Conrads Åke (V75-3) has been a bit nervous and tense both in training and in races since he came to us. After his last start, however, I think he’s found more harmony and it feels like he’s taken several steps forward in that regard. He’s never felt as good as he does now, and we hope that will show on the track as well. We’ve kept his front shoes on until now, but it’s time to take them off. I sat behind him in his final workout today, and we tried pullouts for the first time. It felt like he may have had them in his previous stable since there wasn’t much of an effect, but in any case, it will be the first time with us. Given that he’s been tense, I’ve taken it easy with him at the start, but hopefully he can leave better now that he’s more relaxed. He’s built like a stayer and shouldn’t have any issues with the distance. I’m more concerned about the overnight stay, since he can get stressed, but if he handles that, I believe he’s our better chance of the two in this race."
"1 Onana Boko (V75-5) hasn’t delivered the results we hoped for. He raced very well as a third-place finisher at Dannero, but has been sluggish in his starts since then. In training, he feels like a really good horse, though he only has one gear and relies entirely on his strength. That’s why the Derby has been his main goal, and now we hope he can show what he’s capable of. Unfortunately, he drew a post that he can't take advantage of; he gets doubled up easily, and will get a slow start. However, he’s progressing and was excellent in today’s workout with really good bounce to his step, better than before. We also tried earplugs for the first time, and he responded as we hoped, so he’ll race with them for the first time now. We might also switch from the open bridle to a pull-down one, but that’s not yet decided. Comparing our two horses in the race, he’s clearly the one best suited to the distance and could definitely reach the final if the trip works out."
"9 X.O. Kemp (V75-5) won a cheaper race last time, but the effort was really good. He’s probably as close to top form as he can be, but the outside post isn’t ideal since he hates the stonedust hitting his face. Even though it has improved, I suspect he’ll struggle in the first 500 meters as he tends to bob his head behind other horses. That could make it difficult for him to reach a good position. Ideally, we would have swapped starting positions in this race. But with a bit of racing luck, he could still fight for a spot in the final."
"4 August Zonett (V75-6) has had leg problems and probably needed one more race. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been time or a suitable race. We’ve tried to do everything we can at home to get him in shape, but my feeling is that he’s still a bit short and will be the one furthest from top form among our horses on Tuesday. He’s a good horse, and it’s positive that he’s finally fully sound, but I’d be pleasantly surprised if he can reach a final spot. He likes racing in the lead, and of course it would be interesting to see him there, but the chance of reaching the front is very small, as he’s only average fast from the start. No changes."
"4 Before Takeoff (V75-7), on the other hand, I hope can take the lead, because he clearly loves racing there and improves a level in that position. He has really found another gear since we removed his shoes, and there’s nothing negative to say about his training—he continues to be generally very good at home. The fact that he has raced mostly in sprints is mostly a coincidence; he has the physique and body to handle long distances and feels extremely strong in training. I have a lot of confidence in him here; he’s definitely tough enough to set the pace in a Derby elimination, even if the tempo is high."
Oskar Florhed’s ranking of Wäjersten stable’s winning chances in V75:
- 4 Bullet the BlueSky (V75-1)
- 4 Before Takeoff (V75-7)
- 1 Onana Boko (V75-5)
Outsider: 3 Good Lord (V75-2)
This is what Oskar Florhed says about the stable’s horses outside V75:
"5 Screen Time Limit (race 3) was a bit slow to start at the beginning of the season, but she has grown stronger and is now hitting her stride. She was perhaps the nicest of all in today’s fine-tuning workout, so her form seems even ahead of schedule after the Stochampionatet. The draw is ideal for her, and even if she ends up on the outside, I think she can still reach the final from there."
"1 Vivillion (race 12) likes inside posts and is hard to pass out of the gate, so we’re happy with her post position. She was also a bit tricky to get into form at the start of the season, but last time she made a fantastic impression when she delivered her best race of the year. Her form seems to be improving, and she’ll continue with a blind bridle since she can handle being on the bit during the race. I think she has a good chance of winning."