V85 (double jackpot): Good conditions in the most important race for two-year-olds
An easy victory in the elimination and a perfect post in the final.
Claes Sjöström’s rising star Neutron Star has excellent conditions on Saturday when he lines up in Sweden’s oldest classic trot race – Svensk Uppfödningslöpning at Jägersro.
The most important event for two-year-olds, Svensk Uppfödningslöpning, was first held in 1926. The winner that year was Ibrahim Pasha, the legendary stallion who, with his trainer Sophus Sörensen in the sulky, achieved the remarkable feat of also winning the inaugural editions of the other races that today are considered the classics – the Swedish Trotting Criterium for three-year-olds and the Swedish Trotting Derby for four-year-olds. Whether anyone in this year’s field will follow in Ibrahim Pasha’s hoofprints and capture the “Triple Crown” remains to be seen. First and foremost, one horse-and-driver team will write themself into the history books on Saturday, and whoever it is, it will be a victory of great significance.
“I can’t say off the top of my head which win I rank highest in my career, but Svensk Uppfödningslöpning would certainly be near the top. Maybe the very top,” says Claes Sjöström.
The Solvalla trainer’s Neutron Star has won two of his three career starts. In the elimination, he got a nice trip in cover and sprinted to an easy victory in 1:13.1 over 1,640 meters with autostart, the third-fastest winning time of the year by a Swedish two-year-old.
“He’s a fine horse who is very versatile and handles most things. I was very pleased with him in the elimination; he behaved perfectly. Everything has been great with him afterwards, and you can expect just as good a performance again. We have a good post, and I think it looks very promising ahead of time,” says Claes Sjöström.
Dangerous with the right trip
Neutron Star travels to Malmö together with stablemate Micke Sting (V85-7). After two straight victories, he finished sixth last time in the silver leg after being forced three wide on his way to the position outside the leader.
“The trip was a bit too tough. He had to trot too far out wide at too high a tempo,” says Claes Sjöström.
Just like last time, Micke Sting starts from post eleven behind the gate. But this time the distance is 500 meters longer — 2,640 meters — and the task is somewhat easier on paper as posts 1–6 are filled with horses from the bronze division.
“He feels good after his last start, and I think he holds consistent, strong form and performs well all the time. The distance suits him. He needs good cover and good pace in the race to get into it, but that’s the case every time.”
In addition to top-class trotting, this weekend’s V85 offers a double jackpot that could make a sole winner with all winners picked SEK 48 million richer.