V75®: Primed for a hometown roar
The highlight of the fall season up north.
When V75® heads to Boden, Roger Nilsson is ready.
"All five horses have been prepared with this day in mind. The plan and the feeling in training is that they are all ready to deliver their best performance of the season," says the hometown trainer.
Being stabled at the country’s northernmost racetrack requires extra attention to planning. Just over three months after the summer festival under the midnight sun, Boden again hosts V75®.
October naturally means harsher conditions in Norrbotten, but Roger Nilsson is optimistic about Saturday’s forecast.
"It was 18 degrees yesterday and 16 today with brilliant sunshine. I’ve ordered the same weather for the weekend. Winter can wait a little longer," says Nilsson, who has otherwise made his name as a winter specialist who enjoys putting in the ice corks.
"Normally, I ice up my training track the last week of October. But last year it didn’t happen until mid-November, and it looks like it could be similar this year."
During the lighter half of the year, Nilsson instead trains his horses on a deep sand track, inspired by the one Daniel Redén has built his empire around, some 1,000 kilometers further south.
"I’ve tried to copy a bit of how he does it. Even though I’ve never been there to drive myself, I’ve asked around. Then it’s a matter of learning how to train for the best effect. Now I feel like I’ve started to figure it out — how to vary the speed and number of intervals depending on the form I want."
How do you want the form to be on Saturday?
"At the top, of course. This is the day we’ve been targeting, really, with all five horses. It’s Barolo Gene and Filling Fuel, and to some extent Gratisfaction, that I feel most confident about having in peak condition at the right time."
"A real lactic acid workout"
Neither in that trio has started since late August.
How have you trained them since then?
"Barolo Gene and Filling Fuel both delivered very strong efforts in V75 at Bergsåker. They took it easy the week after, and since then, we’ve gradually increased the training. Yesterday, I put them through a very tough workout where they got really tired. A real lactic acid workout. That should provide the final sharpening, and my feeling when training was that we nailed it and that they are ready. Now it’s just a matter of maintaining it with an easier session this week."
What are your expectations for Saturday?
"I expect that all the horses will perform very well. We’ve had perfect conditions for a long time and have been able to prepare exactly as planned. The plan and the feeling in training is that they are all ready for their best performance of the season, or at least as good as they’ve been at their very best earlier. Of course, these are animals, so nothing is ever certain, but I’m extremely pleased with them right now," says Roger Nilsson.
Roger Nilsson's comments on his V75 starters:
"8 Gratisfaction (V75-2) was a bit on one line when finishing fourth in V75 at Skellefteå and wasn’t perfect that day. Still, he finished strongly and was only two meters from second place at the line. He had a short break after that and got a sharper-than-usual workout before his most recent start, where he won with plenty left in his tank. Since then, he feels to have taken another step forward and is clearly in better shape now compared to Skellefteå. Daniel Wäjersten drove him once this summer and liked the horse a lot, so it will be fun to let him drive again now that the horse is in better shape. We’ll try an American sulky for the first time. I don’t know what effect it will have, but since it’s a lighter driver than last time, I want a heavier sulky to balance things out. Otherwise, no changes — the horse will still race with heavy front shoes. The draw is obviously tough, and he’s not a horse you can back off with early, so they’ll have to leave out of there and hope it works out. I think he’s competitive in his class, but from this post, he’ll need some racing luck to fight for the win."
"2 Isolde Brick (V75-4) has improved with every start since midsummer. It’s been a positive surprise, as I didn’t see her as a V75 horse, but with this field being a bit thin, I thought it was worth trying. She really has a gait best suited for racing barefoot, but since she had a fracture in her hind hoof, I want to keep shoes on her hind hooves. She’s good at staying on and keeping up the pace, so from a good post, I think she could be in the mix for a top-three spot. Still, of all my horses, she’s the one I’d be most surprised to see win."
"1 Filling Fuel (V75-5) I was a little uncertain about ahead of Bergsåker since he was sick in his previous start. So, it was really positive that he could trot 1:10 and still have something left at the finish. Since then, we’ve been targeting this race. It’s hard to expect the horse to be even better, but the feeling in training is that he’ll be at least as good. The inside post is perfect for him. Unlike some of my others, he has the technique to handle the acceleration needed from there. Barolo Gene, for instance, would have no chance to defend the lead from this post, but Filling Fuel could — even if I suspect it will be tough to hold off 4 Flory Lane, who I’ve raced against several times and is extremely quick in the start. If he does make the lead, he loves that spot, but he’s also very effective following cover. What he doesn’t handle is racing first up, outside the leader. Last time he raced with blinkers for the first time, and that gave the desired effect, so we’ll continue with them. With the right trip, he should be in the mix for the win."
"5 Global Dandy (V75-6) started with a couple of easy wins for us, but then was sub-par in two starts. That was entirely my fault for being too easy on him in training. The horse has a history of injury, and I wanted to be extra careful. However, after Skellefteå, I pushed him hard on the sand track and got a great response in his last start. He has continued to train well since and should be ready for his best performance since coming here. In his most recent start, we tried a pull-off earhood for the first time, and that worked perfectly, so we’ll use it again along with a pull-down bridle and racing without hind shoes. I know he raced with a blind bridle for Redén, but since he’s been a bit aggressive, we’ve raced him open. He’s quick in the volt start, but most of our chances of leading vanished when we drew post 5. In any case, I think he’ll stay flat and is competitive if he finds a good spot."
"5 Barolo Gene (V75-7) trotted as fast as he could last time but still had plenty left at the finish. The plan was not to race him along the pylons, but that’s how it worked out, and in hindsight, it was probably smart. I think he benefits from being locked in sometimes. He feels very strong now, and this time he can be driven more aggressively. The post is perfect, as he needs to start further out on the track to get up to speed. While I’d prefer him to avoid racing first-up, he handles it better than Filling Fuel. Last season was ruined because I tried racing him lighter early on and removed his PG shoes, which led to hoof problems that lingered. Since we sorted that out, his form has only gone up. He’s gotten better with every start, and it feels like that trend continues. No changes. If I try to put him in with these opponents, I’d say he has the best chance on paper of my horses on Saturday."