V85: Can history reapt itself in the Oaks for Sören? "You have to dare to dream"

Among the longest shots on the board in her elimination – but Nelly Furtado Sisu won and is now a finalist in the Swedish Trotting Oaks.
With a small stable, Umåker trainer Sören Lennartson has qualified another horse for the biggest race for three-year-old fillies.
Fifteen years ago, he pulled off a popular and surprising win with Vincennes. The question is: can history repeat itself?
"It's not only the big guys who make it to the final, there is room for us small trainers as well," says Sören ahead of the V85 Super Saturday.

Third along the pylons became a pocket trip, which turned into an opening and a clear path just in time for the final turn.
Per Lennartsson gave 1 Nelly Furtado Sisu (V85-5) a perfect trip, and the filly thanked him by sprinting to victory in her elimination for the Swedish Trotting Oaks.
For the bettors, the 60-1 shot was a sensation. For the trainer, perhaps not quite as much.
"Surprising in a way, it was, but we have still had the goal of trying to make it to the final, and we have to believe in what we are working with. The filly had still given us indications that we could go all the way, then of course everything doesn't always go the way you hope..." says Sören Lennartson when we have a chat on Sunday. The trainer continues:
"It really worked out perfectly last time, and that was probably also the chance we had to make it to the final, that we would get a stalking trip, and we have to say that we did. Then she was very game when she also got the opening and was able to kick on."
But it has still been the goal this year with this filly, to aim for the Oaks?
"Yes, actually. I think it was in the winner's circle around Midsummer after she won in Skellefteå and set a track record, when I said: now we'll bring her back in and train only for the Breeders' Crown and Oaks. And that's exactly what we did. Then it turned out she had a throat infection when she raced the start before last in the Breeders' elimination, and we needed to get that under control before Solvalla. So it was a little nerve-racking and difficult for a while there, when we had to wait for the infection to clear, but the veterinarian examined her and took blood tests and gave us the green light. But we really didn't know until two or three days before the race whether we would be able to participate. But it turned out great...and in a way it was lucky that the infection came when it did, so to speak."
So you can also assume that she has moved forward with that race under her belt?
"That's the idea. Even with the training schedule she has had, we hope that she has moved forward and peaked in form by now. That's how we have planned it. There is good money to race for throughout the year, but it is still mostly now in the fall."


Very tough opponents – but dreaming of a repeat
The Swedish Trotting Oaks is one of the many sweet treats on Solvalla's Saturday V85 card.
The year's biggest race for three-year-old fillies shares the spotlight with the Swedish Trotting Criterium for the three-year-old colts and geldings, the Walter Lundberg Memorial and STL finals on a packed day of racing.
Nelly Furtado Sisu will not be the favorite in the Oaks. Far from it.
That doesn't stop the trainer from hoping for a repeat of the eliminations.
"You have to dare to dream. If it were to happen, it would be fantastic. There are twelve really nice horses in the final and the competition is extremely tough, but we got a good post position and the hope is that we can bring home a good chunk of money. If we were to finish on top as well, that would just be a bonus. We absolutely have to dare to believe in what we are doing," says Sören and adds:
"I jogged her today (Sunday), she felt perfectly okay, and then she will go a workout on Tuesday so we can get her heart and lungs working a little. Then we'll head down toward Solvalla on Friday."
You also got to choose your post position first, and you chose the inside. What were your thoughts?
"Yes, we had talked a little about that...I had seen some statistics that the inside post in the Oaks might not be all that good, but on the other hand, when you qualify a 60-1 shot... The horse isn't especially fast out of the gate either. We might have had the second post to choose from, but it still felt like we should try to get another stalking trip for her. That's why I never really hesitated, and I'm glad we got to choose first."
What about the equipment, are you considering any changes for the final?
"We are thinking about making her a little faster out of the gate, so we are considering putting a blind bridle on her for the race. That could make her quicker from the start, and she needs to be so that we can get a good position. I've tried to save that gear a little, but it feels like it's time now..."

Finalists can also be found north of Sundsvall
Umåker trainer Sören Lennartson currently has twelve horses on his training list, and half of them are unraced two-year-olds.
Yet he is in the Oaks final – again. In fact, he has had an incredible ability over the years to qualify for the race.
Last year he had Millenium U.M. in the final, in 2009 he qualified Carmen Sund, and in 2015 Somersault Sally. And above all in 2011, when Vincennes won – despite making a break along the way.
"It's a memory you get to live on. Yes, I have actually qualified five Oaks finalists during the 2000s, and it feels incredibly rewarding. Last year we didn't bring anything home from the final; we were too far out on the wing and were probably the first horse out of the money."
So you're a specialist when it comes to three-year-old fillies?
"The statistics say so..." Sören laughs and continues:
"I usually want my horses to have good bloodlines, on the dam's side, but I haven't always been able to afford to buy stallions with the pedigree I would like, so you have to live within your means. But as I said, I try to get good bloodlines on the fillies, and I seem to have gotten the training right. That's actually how it is, and we are from the north as well... they claim you can't qualify for and win classic races from north of Sundsvall, but I think we have proven with a small stable that it actually can be done. You have to be determined and believe in what you are doing," he says and concludes:
"It also gives hope to all the small trainers: it actually can be done. It is not only the big guys who make it to the final, there is room for us small trainers as well."

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