V75®: The world record holder is the favorite in the E3 final
A world record during the Elitlopp weekend.
An easy victory in his elimination.
Wise Guy is the given favorite in Saturday's E3 final at the Sundbyholm Racetrack in Eskilstuna.
Per Nordström has developed many talented young horses over the years. The elite trotter Önas Prince is his biggest star, but horses like the winner of Jubileumspokalen Nimbus C.D., double E3 winner Felix Orlando, E3 winner Islay Mist Sisu, and the Sprint champion Grande Diva Sisu are also nothing to be ashamed of. In Wise Guy (V75-3), the Jägersro-based trainer has yet another young horse with potential far beyond the ordinary.
“Of course, he still has a lot to prove compared to Önas Prince, but he has already set a world record for three-year-olds, and he set a national record as a two-year-old, so he’s no ordinary horse – he’s something special. If he stays sound and healthy, he has the potential to reach the elite,” says Per Nordström.
Won his elimination without the overcheck
Wise Guy boasts seven wins, two second-place finishes, and earnings of SEK 2 million in ten starts. When he raced barefoot for the first time, two starts ago, he won the three-year-old elite race during the Elitlopp weekend in 1:11.0 over 2,140 meters – a new world record for three-year-olds on a 1,000-meter track. He followed that up with an easy victory in his E3 elimination.
“He’s delivered time and time again. Ever since he was two, we’ve felt he was something special. But he can be a bit mischievous. He’s got Ready Cash in him and has broken more than one overcheck. Last time, he got a bit fired up and broke the overcheck, so I had to race him without it. However, he’s intelligent and safe, and he handled it well. I just took a safe start and didn’t even have to push him at the finish.”
Can win the hard way
In Saturday's final, in which the winner receives SEK 1 million, Wise Guy and Per Nordström start from post position two behind the gate.
“He came out of the elimination very well. Since the Elitloppet weekend, he’s done his regular training, and we haven’t pushed him too hard, so his form should improve with that last start and be as close as possible to his Elitloppet weekend form on Saturday.”
As in all major stake finals, the race is full of highly capable talents, but Per Nordström feels comfortable being the favorite.
“If he is the favorite, it's well deserved. He has the best racing credentials, and the conditions are great. If I were a bettor, I would like him too,” says Nordström, and continues:
“I’m very happy with my horse, he has trained exactly as I’ve wanted, and we couldn’t have done anything differently. He’s very complete as a racehorse, and when he behaves and is in balance, as at the Elitloppet weekend when I sent him out of the gate, he can leave very fast. He’s also raced outside the leader and shown that he’s tough and can win with any trip. He doesn’t give in easily and is good enough to win even the hard way. I’m expecting a really strong effort from him on Saturday.”
“I’m very happy with my horse, he has trained exactly as I’ve wanted, and we couldn’t have done anything differently. He’s very complete as a racehorse, and when he behaves and is in balance, as at the Elitloppet weekend when I sent him out of the gate, he can leave very fast. He’s also raced outside the leader and shown that he’s tough and can win with any trip. He doesn’t give in easily and is good enough to win even the hard way. I’m expecting a really strong effort from him on Saturday.”