V75®: Törnqvist in the spotlight as V75 says goodbye
Maria Törnqvist has the potential to become Saturday’s Trainer of the Day as V75® is raced for the last time before the premiere of V85®.
She has a hot trio racing, and the most attention will be directed toward her five-year-old star Bicc’s Tobee in the Gold Division.
But Maria herself believes one of his stablemates might have an even better chance.
V75 has been a campfire for many trotting and betting fans since 1993. That fire will soon continue to burn under the new name V85®. But before the new format takes over, the era of V75® on Saturdays will end with one final card at Bjerke Racetrack in Oslo, Norway.
"I’m actually genuinely moved. I’m not against change, but V75 has been the biggest thing you could be part of since I was little. You got those classic blue and yellow fleece blankets when your horse won a final. I still have mine after a little more than sixteen years,” says Maria Törnqvist, taking a short pause before continuing:
"I love V75. I grew up with my dad playing it on Saturdays, and we bought our first V75-winning horse thanks to him hitting a V75 ticket. Changes are rarely bad, but it still feels a bit sad."
Aiming for the lead
Many trotting and betting enthusiasts probably feel the same sense of nostalgia and melancholy as Maria Törnqvist now that the V75 era is ending. At the same time, there’s excitement and anticipation surrounding the new V85 format.
The hope, of course, is that V85 will become as big a success for harness racing as V75 was when it replaced V65, and that both old and new fans, bettors, trainers, and drivers will find an even larger and livelier “campfire” to gather around.
But Saturday is the final chance to land a million-win on V75 — and anyone hoping for all seven winners should take Maria Törnqvist’s trio into account.
In the Gold Division, which also serves as the Big Noon Trophy, she sends out her top-class trotter Bicc’s Tobee (V75–3). He won the Margareta Wallenius-Kleberg Trophy earlier this year and most recently finished strongly as sixth after a wide trip from last position in the Swedish Championship.
"I was delighted with his last performance," says Maria Törnqvist. "He had a bit of bad luck and had too much ground to make up, but he finished full of energy. He's come out of that race really well and feels good. He trained this morning (Monday), and even though he’s a bit lazy by nature, he felt good."
Last time, Bicc’s Tobee had post position eight behind the starting gate. This time, he has drawn post two — from where the goal is to take the lead, just as he did in his big win two starts ago.
"I’ve only looked at the race briefly, but I’m pleased with the draw. Of course, he’s facing some really, really good horses, but he’s strong in the lead and I hope he gets there."
"Fits this class exceptionally well"
Bicc’s Tobee will likely be the favorite in his race. Another stablemate, 9 Fawas Mil (V75–5), will also attract plenty of attention from bettors.
Post nine over 1,609 meters (one mile) isn’t usually ideal, but for Fawas Mil, who has won all three starts over the short distance, it suits him perfectly.
"We’ve learned how to handle this horse now — he shouldn’t have to go three-wide in the first turn. He’s been extremely good coming from behind every time, so I think this draw is actually an advantage for him. He felt fine in his training today as well."
Fawas Mil showed continued strong form last time when he finished fast to win after a third-over trip.
Stablemate 8 Ontario (V75–1) also showed good form in her most recent start when she finished locked in as fourth with plenty left in the tank.
"It feels like she always has bad luck. She feels good, too, but she drew post eight, and I think the race looks really tough for this class. She was fine in training today and is in good form, but we’ll have to be a bit cautious with expectations."
How would you rank your horses’ chances on Saturday?
"Then I’d probably rank Fawas Mil first. I think he fits this class exceptionally well. Then comes Bicc’s Tobee, and finally Ontario.”
You could end the entire V75 era as the day’s top trainer…
"That would be wonderful — I really hope I do," says Maria Törnqvist.