V86 (jackpot): Busy days for Bernie: "It will be exciting"
Lightning fast and very capable — but his first start since August.
Hipster K. is returning to racing on Wednesday and is ready for a new, exciting season.
"He's a very good horse, so it will be exciting," says Björn "Bernie" Norén, who has one more starter in V86.
The amateur trainer from Axevalla, Björn "Bernie" Norén, has three horses in his care, two of which are racehorses, both racing in V86 at Solvalla on Wednesday.
The quick-footed gelding 4 Hipster K. (V86-2) has won in STL twice before; however, when he returns to racing on Wednesday, it will be his first start since August of last year. He ended last year with breaks in his last three starts.
"Yes, he made breaks a few times. We noticed something wasn't right. We had to do surgery on his knees, and he got some time off. However, he has felt good and has trained extensively in the pressure cart, as well as in interval training, this past winter. He comes well prepared for this. I trained him a faster heat on Maundy Thursday; 1:17/2,000 meters with the last kilometer in 1:14, in a good way," says Bernie.
Not a decent start for almost a year
The return in the jackpot-infused V86 on Wednesday looks good on paper. Hipster K. comes out in an apprentice race with the competent Oskar Florhed in the sulky. The 8-year-old gelding got his favorite conditions with a good post behind the gate over the short distance.
"You have to remember that he hasn't made a decent start for almost a year. It was May 17 of last year when he won at Färjestad, and after that, he just made breaks. But, as I said, he wasn't right then, and hopefully, he should be better now. We know that he's a very good horse when he's healthy, so it will be exciting on Wednesday."
The conditions must be appealing?
"Yes, but it turned out to be a good race, but he likes the distance and we drew well. It's hard to say how his form is, but we know what he's capable of, even if the others should be in better form. Hopefully, he can take the lead and let Stepping Dreamboy go; he also leaves very fast. That would give him a perfect trip."
Happy and fresh in training
Hipster K. is not making the trip to Solvalla alone. His travel companion on Wednesday is 11 Laprisamata (V86-6).
He has made four straight V75 starts. His effort last time out, at Romme, left more to be desired, according to the trainer.
"He has done well, except for in his most recent start, when we were a bit disappointed in his effort. He was sluggish the entire race, and Linda Sedström, who drove, had to chase him pretty much from the start. She gave him a great trip, but he was, as I said, sluggish. Perhaps he had eaten too much fresh grass, or maybe the track surface wasn't to his liking that day, but we haven't been able to determine a reason for the subpar performance. His blood test came back fine, and he has felt good in training after his last start. He's happy and fresh."
Starting in the second tier may not be ideal, though?
"We knew it was a handicap, but of course, I was hoping to draw in the first tier, considering the gate speed he has shown. But Rikard Skoglund has to try to give him a good trip. I think he has improved and found a new level as a driver since returning from the U.S. He can really get them going."
The message to the bettors is still to use both on their tickets?
"Absolutely. If you play with more than one horse, they should probably go on the ticket, both horses are very capable, even if you also need racing luck," says Bernie, and adds:
"They will both race in the Finntack Yankee sulky, it has the American design, but counts as a regular style sulky since it's not offset."
Accommodating Canada's Elitlopp contender
"Bernie Norén also has a special mission these coming weeks.
The trainer himself has worked in North America for almost twenty years, both for Jimmy Takter and Åke Svanstedt, and is welcoming Canada's Elitlopp contender, Logan Park, to his farm.
"He is on his way here. They departed Toronto for New York last Thursday and boarded a plane to Frankfurt the next day. He will travel by truck to Sweden on Sunday, stay overnight, and then proceed to my farm on Monday. It's a long trip, and of course, that is a bit worrisome."
Could Logan Park be a factor in Elitloppet? He seems to be an excellent horse?
"Yes, he is. It was chilly when he won his most recent start, and I spoke to Rob Fellows (the trainer, ed's note) after the race, and he was pleased. It's a real fighter who never gives up. We hope that he draws well in his elimination, then I'm sure he can reach the final. Logan Park is a better horse than many think he is. I don't think people know how good he really is."