V85®: Christoffer Eriksson established in the top – hot chances on Saturday
Double wins on V85® last Saturday and another double two weeks ago.
Christoffer Eriksson has started the new year brilliantly with a 27 percent win rate and just over SEK 3.5 million earned, making him the third-winningest trainer in Sweden this year.
On Saturday there could be more success as the Åby-based trainer has seven horses entered in V85 at his home track.
"I have several horses who can end up in the mix and win. But Opening Night is probably the most exciting of them all," says Christoffer Eriksson.
After the crushing record year last season with SEK 14 million earned and 120 wins, the success continues for Christoffer Eriksson. He has really moved forward in recent years and now belongs among the top trainers in the country. The early numbers and wins after two and a half months this year are something he is, of course, pleased with. There have been 31 wins from 116 starts, and the horses have also finished among the top three in more than half of the races. Earnings stand at just over SEK 3.5 million, which puts him third in the national trainers’ league.
"Then we compete at a high level all the time, like in V85 and V86. We are often at Solvalla and were also at Vincennes during the winter. So it's not exactly in the backyard that we compete, and that makes the numbers even stronger," says Christoffer Eriksson when we reach him on Monday as he is in the car on the way to the races at Mantorp.
"We have found the right approach to the training now after a few years at the farm in Hajom and it feels like we have a high minimum level. Success breeds success and you develop all the time and get better. You learn from your mistakes and I am a better trainer today than I was a few years ago. I also have a very good team around me with skilled grooms and a good veterinarian. Those are things that have to work. I have always had good owners and it is largely the same owners I have had with me from the beginning," says Christoffer as he tries to explain the success.
Successful focus on racehorses – "Very few have not turned out well"
He has 80 horses in training and has, in recent years, become known for buying racehorses from other trainers and improving them significantly.
"We have deliberately focused on that because previously, there were not exactly new owners knocking on the door. Then you had to buy horses from other trainers, but now that things have gone so well, new horses and new owners are coming in regularly and that is gratifying."
"There are very few horses we have bought that have not turned out well. Whether that is because I am good at identifying which ones to buy or because I am a good trainer I do not know. But joking aside, it has been very successful. There are many horses we have bought that have earned SEK 600,000–700,000 and several that have earned over a million and won many races."
Great success in V85® – "The horses have raced super"
Last Saturday in V85® at Bjerke in Oslo, the stable scored a double with Kiss My I.D. and Humanity Pellini. In addition, Garbino was second and La Liga Boy jumped off at least second place mid-stretch. And two weeks ago at Axevalla, there was also a double on V85 through Mr Carnation and Indy Boy.
"The horses have raced super on V85 recently and I have many nice horses at the moment that are good enough for V85. I have almost as many horses qualified for the finals next week at Solvalla as I have starters this Saturday. The horses are in top form and all felt good and looked nice when they trained today (Monday). Soon, most of the stable will be racing, and we are entering an intense period," says trainer Eriksson.
"A horse I really like – barefoot behind suits him well"
On Saturday it is, as mentioned, V85 races at the home track, Åby. Here Christoffer comments on his seven horses on V85 and begins with Mr Carnation, who comes off a win on V85 and is chasing his fourth straight victory.
"2 Mr Carnation (V85-1) looked very safe last time and it worked well when he had knee boots on. He behaved well and he trained on the straight track today (Monday) and felt nice. I feel that the horse has become a bit more confident after his last start. I also think that barefoot behind will suit him well and make him even more confident. Now the conditions are a bit different with post two behind the gate and we will see how he handles that. Last time from post twelve, he could start a bit easier. But if he feels good, I think he will be able to leave fairly quickly. He has moved up a class now but I do not think that will bother him. It is a nice horse that I really like and there will be no other changes," says Christoffer.
"9 VästerboRoyalflash(V85-1) was locked in with everything left last time and was completely unused at the finish. He would surely have won if he had found room and the horse looks very strong in form at the moment. I think this is the best he has felt in my training and he is in top form. Now he has a good stalking post with number nine, and if things work out along the way, he is very effective with his speed. Then I do not think he is out of it. No changes."
"He is the most exciting of all my horses"
"3 Opening Night(V85-2) came to me last fall and has felt like a very good horse in training but I thought he was a bit weak late in the races last year. Now he has had time to train and I think a lot has happened with him over the winter. Last time in his seasonal debut at Jägersro, I do not know if it was the track that did not suit him, but he couldn't really hold his gait together and was slipping a bit. So, you had to sit and nurse him, but at the same time, there was plenty of trot in him at the finish. He raced barefoot all around then but now he will have shoes behind because it may be that he needs a bit more support. I think barefoot in front and shoes behind will work well, and if his gait improves, I almost feel he is the most exciting of all my horses on V85. He has a start in his legs now and has a good draw, but is only medium from the start. He likes the longer distance and now he will use an American sulky for the first time in his career. We continue with a blind bridle."
"11 I.D.Hipster One (V85-2) was disadvantaged by the sticky track on Wednesday because he races with a lot of weight and it tired him out. At the same time, he became too eager in the lead when we used a blind bridle, and he never relaxed, so we will change that now to a pull-down bridle. I also think it may be good for him to race from behind this time. It is a good horse and he felt smoother and better in training today (Monday) than he did before the start on Wednesday. The plan was to race barefoot behind last time, but because the track was so bad, it did not happen. But now I think barefoot behind will work very well since he is also smoother now with a start in his legs. I had expected to win the race last time, but a few things meant he did not. If things work out from post eleven, he will be right there."
"Feels even better now"
"10 Xanthis Hilton(V85-3) has raced well for me and last time out, he was really good when he raced outside the leader at 1:10-speed the first 1500 meters. He got to recover afterwards and has since trained on again. I might not have expected him to get post ten in the handicap, but the horse feels good and will surely race well. But to win, everything has to work out along the way, with a good trip. Now he will race barefoot in front for the first time for me."
"11 Pure Desire(V85-4) had two tough races in Paris and still managed to be third at Vincennes last time, which was well done. She may not have been perfectly suited to the big track, but at the same time, she has gotten some toughness from racing there that she can benefit from back home. When she raced here in December with shoes, she was a bit flat and should be sharper now that she can go barefoot all around. Now she starts with a 20-meter handicap and needs some luck and the right trip if it is to be a good placing."
"11 Express Jab (V85-5) made one start right after arriving in the fall and was a bit flat then. He then got to train during the winter and has looked much better. He was also very nice in the win on the poor track on Wednesday and has actually felt even better after that race. It feels like the horse has come into a really nice period now in the spring. Then it is always unfortunate with post eleven but he is a good horse for the class and if things work out along the way he will surely be right there. No changes," says Christoffer Eriksson.