V75® (Sunday): Fame And Glory — Mission: Derby
The expectations are high, the talent is enormous.
Fame And Glory has reached the biggest task so far in his career and he is everybody's pick to win the Swedish Trotting Derby.
"He has been a complete racehorse from day one and has no bad sides," says Björn Goop, who has a golden opportunity to win the Derby.
In 2021, Calgary Games was celebrated as the winner of the Swedish Trotting Derby.
At that time, 5 Fame And Glory (V75-6) was a year old. Three years later, the little brother and the winner of last year's Kriterium, will try to repeat history as the given favorite.
Björn Goop drove Calgary Games, and has driven Fame And Glory in all his career starts. He sees both similarities and differences between the two brothers.
"They have the same kick to their stride. Both just reach further when you ask them to go, they don't take more strides, they take longer strides and go faster that way. Other than that, they are not that similar, the way they act, but both horses are incredible racehorses," says Björn and adds about Fame And Glory:
"He has always been good and has always improved. He is big, strong, and tough. His strength and his attitude make him a complete racehorse, he doesn't have any bad sides".
You have driven him in all of his eleven career starts so far. Is there something in particular you focus on when you drive him?
"To educate him. He never had that much experience, he had to learn and train himself constantly; learn how to act behind the starting gate and things like that. But he has been a good student".
Is there anything a horse like this can get better at?
"I don't know, we have never left hard with him, but at the same time, he can leave well and his strength is his best feature. I don't know what he could improve, except simply getting better, you hope he will be even better as an older horse".
A horse with gears saved for the future
Fame And Glory could give trainer Timo Nurmos his fifth win in the Swedish Trotting Derby.
It would be Björn Goop’s second win. Nineteen years ago, he won with Conny Nobell, a horse he trained himself.
"It's an interesting Derby, I think. All the elimination winners won impressively, finishing fast on fresh legs. There are some speculations before the final, as usual. It's hard to say, of course, Fame And Glory should be the favorite, but there are challengers," says Björn.
Fame And Glory has made three starts this year, going into the Derby final.
He finished third in his seasonal debut, in Prix Readly Express. In the following start, in Eskilstunas Fyraåringstest, he trotted 1:11.7 over the Derby distance, 2,640 meters, started behind the gate, and that equaled the world record set by Calgary Games three years ago.
In his Derby elimination, he won as easily as expected.
"He was good in his first start this year, then he was fantastic in Eskilstuna and fantastic again in the Derby elimination," says the driver and continues to look back to Fame And Glory’s most recent start:
"It was a good elimination race for him. We took a normal start and got a wide first turn, but then we set a good pace and he trotted home fast. It was a good elimination since he didn't have to go all out".
He has raced barefoot twice before; in last year's Kriterium, and the Breeders Crown. He is entered barefoot again on Sunday.
"I think he will race barefoot again on Sunday, that's the plan and it's a plus, I think. It worked magically in the Kriterium, the horse was great that day. He raced well in the Breeders Crown too, but he was a bit tired by then, after the Kriterium. He got a tough trip but wasn't himself, so I don't think it had anything to do with him racing barefoot".
You have sat behind many of the best trotters in the world throughout the years. Does Fame And Glory have the same potential?
"He does. He has trotted at those speeds; he equaled the world record two starts ago and is still developing. I think he can take another step next year; it feels that way. He is not fully developed just yet and there are more gears to use in the future".
The Swedish Trotting Derby 2,640 meters auto
1. Kuiper – Daniel Wäjersten
2. Epic Kronos – Örjan Kihlström (Daniel Redén)
3. Macahan – Carl Johan Jepson (Maria Törnqvist)
4. Global Etalon – Magnus A Djuse (Fredrik Wallin)
5. Fame And Glory – Björn Goop (Timo Nurmos)
6. Trogir – Michael Nimczyk (Wolfgang Nimczyk)
7. Zaxton – Santtu Raitala (Daniel Wäjersten)
8. Stens Rubin – Johan Untersteiner
9. Holcombe Zet – Erik Adielsson (Daniel Redén)
10. Herakles Zet – Jorma Kontio (Daniel Redén)
11. Kojak Sisu – Mats E Djuse (Timo Nurmos)
12. Underground Artist – Christoffer Eriksson
First prize: SEK 2 million.