V85® (dream jackpot): High On Pepper many bettors' hope in the chase for millions
A chance for a record payout on V85® when SEK 130 million awaits the sole winner with eight correct picks.
Finding the right horses to single becomes more important than ever, and many are likely to place their trust in High on Pepper.
The powerhouse from the Katja Melkko stable delivered a powerful statement on his return last time out after a layoff.
New Year’s Eve a little more than a year ago.
A bettor from Trollhättan was the only one to hit seven correct picks on V75® and was rewarded with the unbelievable amount of nearly SEK 107 million.
The biggest trotting payout in Sweden. So far.
On Saturday, that record could be broken. Since no one found all the correct picks this New Year’s Eve, and after last Saturday’s round turned out to be of the less tricky kind, the dream jackpot rolls over to this weekend’s V85® at Romme.
Whoever manages the feat of standing alone with eight correct picks is expected to take home SEK 130 million.
A horse from the home team likely to receive strong backing on Saturday is 8 High on Pepper (V85-4).
The elite trotter and seven-time millionaire opened last year with two straight wins in the Gold Division, but later lost form and, after a break in Norrbottens Stora Pris in June, faced a layoff of nearly half a year.
"He was never injured or anything like that, but a minor operation was carried out on one leg during the break. It was something discovered when the horse was thoroughly examined, so that was corrected along with a few other small things related to muscles and such. I think that could make him another notch better now and make his gait even more smoothly. He seems to have come back well, and now we just hope he can continue racing consistently throughout the winter. There are many good races for him, and he is also a horse who has shown that he performs well in winter conditions with studs, but he races just as well without shoes too," says Kaj Närhinen from the Katja Melkko stable when we call on Monday.
Could have kept going at the same pace
High on Pepper returned to racing at his home track, Romme, in early December and finished second.
But most recently, in the Hästägarekannan in conjunction with the STL Finals at Solvalla on Boxing Day, the gelding showed that he was back with a powerful statement.
High on Pepper made a move to race outside the leader with a lap to go and dethroned his rivals.
"The horse has done well in these two starts after the layoff and won last time in a good way. According to driver Jorma Kontio, he could probably have continued for a while at the same pace, so he was absolutely not tired at the finish. It looked like the horse was back in his old good form," says Kaj and continues:
"Now we drew a poor post, but it is a handicap, so we were aware of that. The post can be a bit challenging, but at the same time, I don't think it matters that much over the distance, and one might suspect that Jorma chooses to make a move at an early stage, although that is, of course, his decision. There is nothing negative to report, and it will be the same equipment as last time, with a pull-down bridle. One of the blinds actually came down before the start last time, but it did not bother the horse, and the other side was, so to speak, never pulled. Everything seems fine ahead of Saturday, and now it is home track, which is always nice."
It is hard to deny that this is a good chance?
"Yes, of course you have to believe that. There are always tough horses when it is V85, but he is also used to facing strong competition, and the way he looked last time, we have to believe in him. You never go out with High on Pepper without being optimistic, because he's at such a high level that he always has to be considered. Even though racing is racing and anything can happen, we know that."
Good form – but poor starting positions
The stable has three more horses in action when it comes to V85 at the home oval.
Kaj Närhinen has a good handle on the horses and can, at the same time, note that the draw was not kind: 8, 8, 10, 12.
"Overall, you could say we did not have much luck with the draw," he says, and continues about 8 Against All Odds (V85-3):
"With a better post, I would not have ruled out that he could have been in the mix here. He was good last time at Bollnäs, better than the start before, and there has been some thought about making small adjustments to the bridle, but from post eight now it might just be what it is. It is not really ideal over 1,640 meters on V85 from there."
In the Class 2 leg, you have two starters: 10 Mr Reddington and 12 Crazy Good I.D. (V85-5). What can they do despite their post positions?
"Mr Reddington returned last time after nearly a year off and was raced more conservatively, as planned. But the horse trotted very, very fast over the final 500 meters, and down the stretch, he was probably below 1:10 speed. He hit the finish line with good momentum, and we hope that with that start in his legs, he can be a notch better this time. With a good inside post, he would likely have been right there. Now, post ten is not a disaster, but it probably requires a solid pace from the start."
"Crazy Good I.D. showed with his win last time that he races well with shoes all around, too, so that was a fine performance. His previous wins were taken barefoot all around, but it seems this setup works as well now. But as said, now it is post twelve on V85, and that doesn't feel like a lot of fun… We hope to have better luck with the draw for him later in the winter, because it feels like he is a horse who belongs in the Saturday races, and I do believe he can climb a couple of classes this winter," says Kaj Närhinen, concluding:
"We can sum it up by saying that High on Pepper, of course, should be seen as a contender and is absolutely our best chance. The other three are showing good form, but the draw was not with us this time."