V75®: Favorable conditions for Martinsson's duo
When Jägersro hosts V75® this Saturday, Eric Martinsson has the chance of winning double.
The two 5-year-olds who will try to do that are Dats Tore and Fusion Eagra, who both recently won impressively.
Taking the step up to the Swedish Trotting League's Silver division can be tough. For a horse who has already battled Gold division horses and beaten them, it might not be an impossible task. Dats Tore (V75-1) proved to be ready for bigger challenges when he, last time out, raced in a combined class race and managed to defeat the Gold division horse Four Guys Dream in a thrilling finish.
"He was super! He got a good trip but still ended up behind the best Gold division horses and had to pass them. I got my hopes up when he was able to just drive straight ahead, two-wide, in the last turn, and it was good of him to get up and win the race," says Eric Martinsson.
Dats Tore had not raced for six weeks before that and his form could be even better with that start in his legs.
"I hope it's not worse, at least. He was very good right off the layoff, and if he is at the same level this time, that's fine. He feels good in training."
The conditions with post position two behind the gate over 2,140 meters could not be much better.
"A great post! It guarantees you a good spot even if you don't take the lead. It's his first time racing in the Silver division, but he feels like a horse that should be good enough for that class and he should be considered early. I'm not saying that you leave him single; it's not easy to win in V75®, but I hope that he ends up in the photo and he can win the race."
"The trip must work out perfectly"
Fusion Eagra (V75-6) will also defend the colors of the Martinsson stable at Jägersro. He is, just like Dats Tore, five years old, and before Dats Tore's last start, he was the richer of the two. Mostly thanks to a successful campaign as a 3-year-old, when he finished fifth in the Swedish Trotting Derby. His earnings are currently at SEK 932,000, which means that he is the horse that fits the Bronze division best, where the earnings limit is at SEK 950,000.
"He is a very consistent and stable horse, and it was nice to see him win his last start. He earned that," says Eric Martinsson.
It was a blowout win for Fusion Eagra after having moved out to sit second over with a kilometer to go in the race over 2,640 meters. This Saturday, the distance is a kilometer shorter, and the gelding starts from post five behind the gate.
"He has raced well in short distance races too, but you need to be closer to the front then. The post position is a bit too far out behind the gate to be perfect, but you usually get a good start from there, and he should be able to find a spot somewhere. I'm sure he could get a good piece of the purse, but the trip must work out perfectly for him to win. But that goes for most horses when racing in V75."