V85® (double jackpot): The Swedish champion seeks another home-track success
He won the Swedish Championship in superb style, and most recently he put on a show despite a tough trip.
On Saturday, Svarte Petter is back on V85® and will be the favorite to win again in the double jackpot at Bergsåker.
"The horse feels at least as good as when he won the Swedish Championship, and he's clearly my best chance," says trainer Henrik Svensson.
Bergsåker hosts Saturday's V85®, and the card comes with a double jackpot. According to the calculations, a sole winner could take home SEK 42 million for eight correct picks alone. The local trainer Henrik Svensson has six horses entered on V85, including the fresh Swedish Championship Svarte Petter. At the end of August, he won the Swedish Coldblood Championship, with SEK 300,000 to the winner, giving his trainer his greatest moment at a racetrack.
"It's the biggest win of my career, and it was extra special that it happened at home. The horse was in really good shape for the Swedish Championship, and there was no question about it once he was let go to the lead. Majblomster came fast at the end, but he's so strong and keeps up his speed," says Henrik Svensson, who has had Svarte Petter in training for just over two years.
"He was good with his previous trainer, too (Jan-Olov Persson), but he's developed a lot and reached another level. His strength is his greatest weapon, but he's also become very fast. Not from the start, though. He's only seven years old, which is no age for a coldblood, so we hope there are plenty more good times ahead with him."
"Extremely good when winning most recently"
Svarte Petter has earned just over SEK 2.2 million and won four of his last six starts. The two blemishes came through breaks, and most recently the horse put on a show, pulling away to an easy victory. He raced first-over until 500 meters from the finish, when he took over the lead and then won while easing down.
"He was extremely good that day and feels just as good now afterward. He got to the lead a little too early and relaxed a bit toward the end, but he wasn't empty at the finish."
What do you think of Saturday's assignment, starting from post three with a 20-meter handicap?
"12 Svarte Petter (V85-5) has benefited greatly from racing over 2,600 meters lately, but now the distance is 500 meters shorter, and there are some good opponents. It could be a long way to the front, but at the same time he's very strong and can handle moving forward. We can approach the race in a few different ways."
"The volt start comes with a small risk of making a break. I think he'll manage it, though, and post three is perfect. He was stable in volt start last year, but he's made a few breaks this year, and at Solänget he was very wound up. We'll have to take it carefully at the start and let him get going. If he stays flat, I think he has a good chance, and he's clearly my best chance on the card. The horse feels every bit as good now as he did in the Swedish Championship."
Any changes to shoeing or equipment?
"It's really a question of what to do about the shoes. His feet are in good enough shape to race barefoot again, but he may be a little more stable with shoes. I'll think it over during the week," he says.
"Completely unused last time out – never been better"
The Bergsåker trainer has five more horses entered on V85 and comments on them as follows.
"3 Warhol (V85-1) is pretty quick from the start and good at keeping up in all types of races. If he gets an inside trip, he could be up there near the finish. Winning seems unlikely, but I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a good check."
"11 Russel Square (V85-1) won most recently, but that was a cheaper race, and now she's badly drawn from post eleven over a short distance. She'll have to take it easy from there, and I'm not expecting too much."
"4 Ava Modde (V85-3) I thought was very good at Hagmyren two starts ago after making a break, and I perhaps expected a little more most recently. Even if he may not enjoy racing first-over, I still expected a little more. He's very fast from the start, and we'll see if he can get away well. The plan is to get an inside trip and get a good check with him, too."
"7 Sessan Of Man (V85-6) has made one start after a short break, and perhaps her form is now coming around with a race in her legs. She finished third in this final last year, with some left after a pocket trip. If we get away well and can give her a similar trip again, perhaps she can pick up a good check."
"7 Amond Remix (V85-8) won two fairly easy races comfortably with plenty left, and most recently he was boxed in, completely unused. We hope for better luck this time. The horse has developed a lot and has never been better than he is now. At the same time, you have to drive him with a little luck involved in races like these, with tougher competition. I'm finding it a little difficult to assess him in this race, but I don't think he's completely out of it. He's raced with shoes all around in his last few starts, and I think the horse is at his best with shoes," says Henrik Svensson.