V86® SuperDays: Has crushed his previous records – already an all time high
He keeps presenting brilliant new horses and transformation acts one after another – and has already smashed the stable’s all-time high by a wide margin compared to previous years.
Christoffer Eriksson is enjoying outstanding success, having already surpassed last year’s record figures by nearly SEK 2 million.
Ahead of Wednesday’s V86®, the Åby trainer has hot chances both on his home track and at Solvalla.
"Jeriko Brick is the best chance, and at Åby, I think Diamond Kronos should have a good winning shot. Both of them can do some work themselves and still win," says Christoffer Eriksson.
V86® SuperDays kicks off on Wednesday – the first of six race cards culminating with a huge jackpot the following Wednesday. The card is split between Åby and Solvalla, and one key trainer is Christoffer Eriksson, whose stable and horses are flying at the moment. In fact, they’ve been in top form all year, smashing last year’s records by a wide margin. In 2023, the tally was 77 wins and just over SEK 8.6 million earned. With more than three months still to go this year, his horses have already collected 82 wins and SEK 10 million.
"It’s gone well all year, I think. We haven’t had any real slumps; everything has just worked nicely all the way through. Many horses have been winning and earning good money. It’s always satisfying when the whole stable is performing well and not just a few individuals," says Eriksson, who admits the success has had a ripple effect.
"I’m getting a lot of new horses right now, and we have around 70 head in the stable. That’s usually what happens when things go well over a longer period – new owners come in. And the owners we already have, when they enjoy success, they want to invest in more and better horses."
"That was one heck of a bargain"
Christoffer Eriksson has scouted and acquired numerous new racehorses from other trainers, effectively managing them well and producing excellent results. The most recent example came last Saturday, when High Five D.K. scored his second win from as many starts for Eriksson in a V75 race at Färjestad. And not to mention Luckisanattitude, who made three starts for the Åby trainer – winning his debut, then taking his Derby elimination, and finishing runner-up in the Swedish Trotting Derby final behind Dream Mine, pocketing SEK 2 million in one go.
"Luckisanattitude was a heck of a bargain. We thought he could be an exciting V75 horse – I felt he hadn’t earned enough compared to his ability. He had only won two races in his career before he came to me, but he was terrific right away, winning a lunch race at Färjestad in 1:12. Then he got a perfect trip in the Derby trial and won strongly. To then finish second in the Derby was fantastic, and I think he’s just getting smoother and better every week. I hope he’ll have a strong fall season, and his next start will be Thursday at Örebro in a four-year-old race. After that, we’ll go for the Breeders Crown. With further training over the winter, I think he can take another step forward next year."
"I knew High Five D.K. was a good horse before he came to me, and he’s been excellent in both of his wins in good times. I told Jepson before Saturday’s race: just get him away safely, and it should be fine. Now he’ll be trained up for the final at Solvalla in three weeks, and I think that period will do him good," says Christoffer.
Racing in the Danish Kriterium trials with two new acquisitions
On Wednesday, it’s V86 at Åby and Solvalla, and although Team Eriksson has four horses entered, Christoffer himself won’t be driving – he’s booked other drivers. The reason is that he’ll be in Copenhagen, racing in the Danish Kriterium eliminations at Charlottenlund that same evening. His two starters there are A.V.’s King Street, who won last time out in his second start for Eriksson, and La Liga Boy, who makes his debut for the Åby trainer.
Back to V86, where Eriksson feels he has two very strong winning chances, but doesn’t rule out the other two either. Here’s his take, horse by horse:
"I think he could win soon"
"9 Ferrara (V86-1) has been going well the past month, and his two straight wins aren’t surprising. He had some bad racing luck before, but he’s in great form now. Two starts back, he won in a low 1:11 time. The second-tier draw is a bit unfortunate since he’s so quick out of the gate, but with a good trip he should be up there again. No changes, barefoot all around, and American sulky."
"2 Rackham (V86-3) has three straight fourths, but he’s getting better all the time. Last time he felt as good as when he’s been at his career best – he raced great and trotted in 1:10. He’s older now and has had many tough races, so it’s natural he’s had a down period. Isabella has done a great job with him. With this post, he’ll get a good trip, and he should finish strongly again. I can’t say he’ll go out and win on command, but in his current form he could definitely win a race soon. No changes, barefoot all around, regular sulky."
"He’ll definitely be a really nice V75 horse this fall and winter"
"4 Diamond Kronos (V86-7) had a strange race last time, sitting too far back and didn't join the attack. But when he finally got clear, he flew the last 400 meters. Had he gone three wide with the others 1,100 meters out, he’d probably have been second, so nothing wrong with the effort. He’s improving steadily and is in full form now. He has the talent to be a really nice V75 horse this fall and winter. For now, he’s still in a low class compared to his ability. He handled volt start well at Lindesberg, so I hope post four won’t be an issue. I’m changing to slightly lighter shoes this time, but nothing major. He will race in a regular style sulky again. Of my Åby starters, he’s the one with the best chance."
"A very good horse who’s won many races – my best chance"
"5 Jeriko Brick (V86-8) won a four-year-old V75 race last time against tough competition. He got a nice trip and finished well, which was especially pleasing since all his previous wins had come from the lead – his strongest position. He now has a good post and is extremely fast behind the gate. Over this short distance, he can go hard early and maintain a high pace. So, the lead is clearly plan A. He’s a very good horse who’s won many races, and I think he has a very strong chance here. If he reaches the lead, his chances improve even more. No changes, barefoot all around, American sulky again. Of my V86 starters, he’s my best chance. Diamond Kronos is the next best, but the other two aren’t out of it if they get some help along the way," says Christoffer Eriksson.