V75®: Schön doubles up in Sweden’s biggest three-year-old races
Four three-year-olds in training.
Two of them qualified for the season’s most important races.
Marcus Schön has a finalist in both the Swedish Trotting Oaks and the Swedish Trotting Kriterium as Solvalla opens its gates on Saturday for the biggest race day of the fall season.
Marcus Schön took out his professional trainer’s license at the beginning of 2023. Two years later, he has managed to qualify two horses for the three-year-old classics. Of course, having the ambitious Stall Courant behind him helps, but qualifying two of the stable’s four three-year-olds for these lucrative finals is still exceptional.
"It feels incredibly special. It’s a real team effort to get here. We haven’t been at it that long — both Sabine (co-trainer Sabine Kagebrant) and I are new — so it’s fantastic to be already competing at this level," says Marcus Schön.
"We’ve taken a step back — and that’s led to success"
The Solvalla trainer has just finished the Monday intervals with his finalists when we reach him. He sounds very pleased with both horses.
"Everything felt great. They’ve taken the elimination races well and feel like they are just where I want them. We haven’t trained hard between starts, but I’m happy with how they’re doing."
7 Mimosa to Martini (V75-4) surprised many when she qualified for the Swedish Trotting Oaks final as runner-up in her elimination. Were you equally surprised?
"Of course, considering the company, a little — but not entirely. She’s beautiful to watch and has done really well in many races. However, I was a bit too aggressive with her gear, which prevented her from performing as well as she could. Since we’ve backed off the equipment, she’s finished first and second in her last two starts."
How have you changed her gear?
"We’ve switched between blind bridle and can't-see-backs instead of the pull-down bridle, but with the pull-down bridle lately she’s been calmer and saved more energy."
And now she’s listed to race barefoot all around…
"Yes, we might pull the front shoes for the first time. I’ve discussed it with the driver (Örjan Kihlström), and we want to clean up her gait a bit. Even though she’s very smooth, we’re looking for small improvements, and I think going barefoot could help her take another step forward."
"As good as she can be"
11 Moonshot (V75-6) reached his final the same way — second place — in the fastest elimination for the Swedish Trotting Kriterium.
"He ended up in no man’s land when the Djuse horse (Barn Bank) took off in front. You never know how they’ll handle that, but he regrouped and gave everything."
And how did he feel in today’s training?
"He’s like a tank — he just powers on at home. Everything felt perfectly normal."
Mimosa to Martini starts from gate 7, and Moonshot from 11. How high are your expectations?
"Moonshot’s draw is tricky, and it’s Sweden’s toughest three-year-old race, so we need to be realistic. But anything can happen, and if things go his way, he could earn good money.
With Mimosa to Martini, I’m more optimistic. Her post is OK, she’s quick from the start, and she has a driver who can find paths others can’t. If it all clicks, she can earn really nice money."
Are both horses in top form?
"I’d say Mimosa is exactly as good as she can be. Moonshot is as good as he can be at this stage of his development. She’s the sharper, quicker type, while he’s heavier and will progress more next year."
So, if one of them causes an upset on Saturday, it’s Mimosa to Martini?
"Yes, that’s how it feels right now."
SEK 50 million to a sole winner
Saturday at Solvalla promises to be something special. In addition to the Swedish Trotting Oaks and the Swedish Trotting Kriterium, the card features the Grand Prix de l'UET for four-year-olds, the UET Elite Circuit final for Europe’s best older trotters, and finals of the Swedish Trotting League. On top of that, the V75 jackpot could make a sole winner SEK 50 million richer.