V85®: "Gio Cash is due for a top effort – it's just to hit the gas pedal"
Last year he won the Årjängs Stora Sprinterlopp in a new track record time of 1:08.5/1640a.
Defending champion Gio Cash has the opportunity to repeat that performance and once again take home the SEK 500,000 first prize on Saturday.
"He will deliver a top performance, and from a good post it's just to hit the gas pedal. The horse feels terrific and I hope he leads all the way," says Oskar Florhed, assistant trainer for Daniel Wäjersten.
Sweden's most beautiful racetrack in Årjäng hosts V85 and stages its traditional major sprint event, where the winner earns a direct invitation to the Hugo Åbergs Memorial. Last year the race developed into a thrilling duel between Gio Cash and Don Fanucci Zet, with the former prevailing impressively in a new track record of 1:08.5/1640a."It was fantastic," said winning driver and trainer Daniel Wäjersten afterward.
But after winning his seasonal debut this year, the star has yet to return to the winner's circle. Following a third-place finish in the Finlandia-Ajo, he broke stride while leading in his Elitlopp elimination, and most recent time in the Norrbotten Grand Prize at Boden, he never got into contention from his poor post position.
But after winning his seasonal debut this year, the star has yet to return to the winner's circle. Following a third-place finish in the Finlandia-Ajo, he broke stride while leading in his Elitlopp elimination, and most recent time in the Norrbotten Grand Prize at Boden, he never got into contention from his poor post position.
"He feels absolutely terrific but has had no racing luck"
Daniel Wäjersten's assistant trainer Oskar Florhed says the stable is not satisfied with Gio Cash's results so far this year."We had hoped he would win the Elitloppet, but unfortunately he got rough gaited and broke stride in the elimination. In his most recent start, he felt terrific at Boden, but he drew post eight and the favorite was parked outside the leader, so the race was locked up. If he had moved forward, he would have been hung out because Francesco Zet was racing first-over, so there was nothing he could do. He raced very well and was completely unused at the wire," says Oskar Florhed.
He continues:
"The horse has felt absolutely fantastic for the past two months, but we've had no luck in the races. Last year everything went our way, but this year it's been the opposite. We've put that behind us now, and we hope and believe things will turn around on Saturday because he's ready to deliver a top performance."
He continues:
"The horse has felt absolutely fantastic for the past two months, but we've had no luck in the races. Last year everything went our way, but this year it's been the opposite. We've put that behind us now, and we hope and believe things will turn around on Saturday because he's ready to deliver a top performance."
"Just hit the gas pedal – I hope he leads all the way"
Gio Cash was fortunate in the draw and landed post four behind the gate for the Årjängs Stora Sprinterlopp, which is the sixth leg of the V85. Francesco Zet, driven this time by his trainer Daniel Redén, starts from post two, while other notable contenders include Barack Face from the rail and the mare La Yuca from post nine."It's a good draw and the horse is very quick out of the gate, so it's just to hit the gas pedal. I hope he leads all the way. We're not changing anything. He'll race barefoot all around, with a pull-down bridle and the American sulky again," says Florhed, who singles out Gio Cash in the official V85 selections.
The Wäjersten stable also sends out one more starter on the V85 card, Lizmark in the final leg.
"1 Lizmark (V85-8) is in good form. He raced well to finish third on Wednesday, and two starts ago he won. Now he's moving up in class and faces good horses, but he's racing over a distance that suits him and the inside post is ideal. He's average out of the gate and is guaranteed a good trip from there. We'll see how far that takes him, but he should be able to earn good money and certainly isn't without a chance. No changes: barefoot all around, blind bridle and the American sulky," says Oskar Florhed.
The Wäjersten stable also sends out one more starter on the V85 card, Lizmark in the final leg.
"1 Lizmark (V85-8) is in good form. He raced well to finish third on Wednesday, and two starts ago he won. Now he's moving up in class and faces good horses, but he's racing over a distance that suits him and the inside post is ideal. He's average out of the gate and is guaranteed a good trip from there. We'll see how far that takes him, but he should be able to earn good money and certainly isn't without a chance. No changes: barefoot all around, blind bridle and the American sulky," says Oskar Florhed.
Finally, how is Borups Victory doing after the victory in the Oslo Grand Prix, and what are the future plans?
"The horse is doing well and is just training lightly right now. We had to choose whether to campaign him through the summer or the winter, and we decided to target the Prix d'Amerique, so he'll get a racing break now with the French winter meeting as the goal. You can't race at the highest level in both summer and winter. Last year he made one start too many during the summer, so we're changing tactics this year to have him at his absolute best for the Prix d'Amerique. He won't race in the Sundsvall Open Trot. The plan is for him to race sometime in October or November, make a start in Sweden first, and then head down to France," says Florhed.
"The horse is doing well and is just training lightly right now. We had to choose whether to campaign him through the summer or the winter, and we decided to target the Prix d'Amerique, so he'll get a racing break now with the French winter meeting as the goal. You can't race at the highest level in both summer and winter. Last year he made one start too many during the summer, so we're changing tactics this year to have him at his absolute best for the Prix d'Amerique. He won't race in the Sundsvall Open Trot. The plan is for him to race sometime in October or November, make a start in Sweden first, and then head down to France," says Florhed.