V85® (jackpot): Hot chances for in-form Bergh – "It’s fun to go with so many good ones"
He is one of the most in-form trainers in the country, with his stable virtually exploding with winners over the past month. Robert Bergh is loaded to V85 in Bollnäs, where his horses come in with several wins in their recent form starts.
"The horses look fantastic and it’s great to go there with so many good ones for V85. It’s going to be an exciting week all the way to Saturday," says Robert Bergh, revealing which ones he believes in the most.
Bollnäs hosts V85, and it’s a card boosted by a jackpot where, according to ATG, SEK 46 million awaits for eight winners picked. One of Sweden’s hottest trainers at the moment is Robert Bergh, whose winners have been coming thick and fast over the past month as spring has arrived. After racing for ten days into January, the entire stable had a planned training period for a couple of months. The horses were trained hard at the Hajom training camp before starting their seasonal debuts one by one in mid-March. And over the past month, it has really taken off. In just the first twelve days of April, the stable has recorded eleven wins along with several other strong placings."It’s of course very satisfying. Already back in October it felt like we needed to give the horses a break after competing well at a high level for a long time. I decided early that they would take it easy in January, and then we’ve trained on for a few months. It’s also the first winter since we moved down here and have only trained them in the uphill," says Robert Bergh when we speak to him late on Monday after a busy day of work on the farm.
"The winter and spring have otherwise been slow, but since March we’ve had better and better training conditions. My horses generally need a start in their legs and are at their best in their second and third starts after a break. It was actually the same when I worked in Sundsvall, when we trained in the uphill during winter. Back then they made their seasonal debuts even later than they have this year, and it was in the second and third starts that they were really good."
"But this year it’s been a bit mixed, with several horses winning directly in their seasonal debuts. Often it has been those racing in V5 that have won, while those going straight into V85 have needed a start. We also always go to Åby and give them a fast workout in 1:16 for the full distance. Especially those that have earned SEK 300–400,000 or more—they need that before racing."
"You can see at home that the horses have put on quite a few kilos over the winter and also grown a few centimeters. They look really good overall," says Bergh.
"The winter and spring have otherwise been slow, but since March we’ve had better and better training conditions. My horses generally need a start in their legs and are at their best in their second and third starts after a break. It was actually the same when I worked in Sundsvall, when we trained in the uphill during winter. Back then they made their seasonal debuts even later than they have this year, and it was in the second and third starts that they were really good."
"But this year it’s been a bit mixed, with several horses winning directly in their seasonal debuts. Often it has been those racing in V5 that have won, while those going straight into V85 have needed a start. We also always go to Åby and give them a fast workout in 1:16 for the full distance. Especially those that have earned SEK 300–400,000 or more—they need that before racing."
"You can see at home that the horses have put on quite a few kilos over the winter and also grown a few centimeters. They look really good overall," says Bergh.
"Many new owners"
The Åby trainer has 77 stalls at the farm in Hajom and says it is now basically full, though as always there is room for a good or interesting horse.
"A lot of new horses have come into training, and especially from new owners, which is very nice," he says.
"A lot of new horses have come into training, and especially from new owners, which is very nice," he says.
"Won directly and looked good – you have to keep an eye on him"
When we speak to Robert Bergh late Monday afternoon, all of the horses starting on Saturday in V85 have completed a somewhat tougher fast workout at the farm.
"They were actually all very good, and there are no question marks about any of them. It’s great to go there with so many for V85 that look this good. It’s still a long way to Saturday, but it already feels exciting now on Monday," says Bergh with a laugh.
He has eight horses starting in V85, and we go through them one by one.
"2 Flame (V85-1) did get the outside-of-the-leader trip last Saturday, but was a bit dull early and struggled somewhat with the loose track, which is often the case at Jägersro. I wouldn’t be surprised if she performs much better at Bollnäs, as that track is a bit firmer and suits her better. Post two in the volt start can be tricky to assess, but I think she will handle it. It will be barefoot all around and a can’t-see-back bridle again."
7 Ace Wibb (V85-2) has been very good, and after two easier wins at the end of last year, he has continued this year with two more victories. The horse is in great shape now, but last year we struggled a bit to get the bounce to his stride and the right stamina into him, even though he competed at a good level. It’s probably his French pedigree coming through, and it’s good when horses can step up like that. He is quick from the start but has a tough post now, and there are several quick horses inside. However, he has also won races from off the pace. Last time he was a bit heavy, so we’ll take some weight off of him up front. Otherwise, it’s a blind bridle and regular sulky again."
"10 J.Kagan Brick (V85-2) won directly in his seasonal debut and looked good. It was a cheap race, but very nice for him. Of course, posts one to four would have been better, but I don’t think this is a bad draw at all—I actually think it’s quite good. It will be barefoot all around and blinds. He’s one to keep an eye on."
"They were actually all very good, and there are no question marks about any of them. It’s great to go there with so many for V85 that look this good. It’s still a long way to Saturday, but it already feels exciting now on Monday," says Bergh with a laugh.
He has eight horses starting in V85, and we go through them one by one.
"2 Flame (V85-1) did get the outside-of-the-leader trip last Saturday, but was a bit dull early and struggled somewhat with the loose track, which is often the case at Jägersro. I wouldn’t be surprised if she performs much better at Bollnäs, as that track is a bit firmer and suits her better. Post two in the volt start can be tricky to assess, but I think she will handle it. It will be barefoot all around and a can’t-see-back bridle again."
7 Ace Wibb (V85-2) has been very good, and after two easier wins at the end of last year, he has continued this year with two more victories. The horse is in great shape now, but last year we struggled a bit to get the bounce to his stride and the right stamina into him, even though he competed at a good level. It’s probably his French pedigree coming through, and it’s good when horses can step up like that. He is quick from the start but has a tough post now, and there are several quick horses inside. However, he has also won races from off the pace. Last time he was a bit heavy, so we’ll take some weight off of him up front. Otherwise, it’s a blind bridle and regular sulky again."
"10 J.Kagan Brick (V85-2) won directly in his seasonal debut and looked good. It was a cheap race, but very nice for him. Of course, posts one to four would have been better, but I don’t think this is a bad draw at all—I actually think it’s quite good. It will be barefoot all around and blinds. He’s one to keep an eye on."
"Very nice and improving well – my best chance"
"5 Global Federation (V85-3) is very nice and has developed really well with racing. He has performed well every time and now has a good draw and leaves quickly. The horse has a great attitude and is probably my best chance in V85. He will race with a slightly lighter balance," says Bergh.
"7 Masters Dunderbeda (V85-6) is a really nice mare who is very tough, and her development curve is excellent. She had a training period before her last start and was very good when she won in Gävle over Easter. It feels like we’ve found the right setup with her training and racing, and she should be even sharper now. She feels further improved in training after her last start. We’ll go with a slightly lighter balance in front; I used bell boots last time but that wasn’t necessary. She is also one of my better chances on paper."
"9 Proffs (V85-6) was nice to see him win last time, and he will be even better with that start in his legs. The long breaks he has had previously have made him quite heavy, but last time he was in shape immediately. He has also felt improved in training since then, and now it will be barefoot all around. He has been racing with heavy front shoes, and I think it will be a real step up now that those are removed."
"5 Global Federation (V85-3) is very nice and has developed really well with racing. He has performed well every time and now has a good draw and leaves quickly. The horse has a great attitude and is probably my best chance in V85. He will race with a slightly lighter balance," says Bergh.
"7 Masters Dunderbeda (V85-6) is a really nice mare who is very tough, and her development curve is excellent. She had a training period before her last start and was very good when she won in Gävle over Easter. It feels like we’ve found the right setup with her training and racing, and she should be even sharper now. She feels further improved in training after her last start. We’ll go with a slightly lighter balance in front; I used bell boots last time but that wasn’t necessary. She is also one of my better chances on paper."
"9 Proffs (V85-6) was nice to see him win last time, and he will be even better with that start in his legs. The long breaks he has had previously have made him quite heavy, but last time he was in shape immediately. He has also felt improved in training since then, and now it will be barefoot all around. He has been racing with heavy front shoes, and I think it will be a real step up now that those are removed."
"Has delivered brutal finishes this year"
"3 Laredo Boko (V85-7) has delivered two brutal finishes in both starts this year and has really built up his form. Now he has also drawn an interesting post. He can leave quickly but hasn’t had the right conditions before. Now it’s more interesting to be involved from the start. It’s actually the first time the horse has had a proper winter training. In previous years he has either been in France or just raced continuously. It has done him good to start the season with a couple of finishing efforts. Barefoot all around and a regular sulky again—it will be interesting to see him here."
"11 Love To Know (V85-8) found it easier and easier when he won his races this winter. He carried his earnings very well and is a typical Love You horse, big-bodied with good development. Now he has had a training period, and you can feel that a lot has happened with him. He has also grown a lot, and it’s not easy to perform at the top level immediately in a seasonal debut. On top of that, he has a tricky draw with post eleven. He has been to Åby and trained 1:16 over 2,100 meters and has improved from that. Barefoot behind and a can’t-see-back bridle," says Robert Bergh.
"3 Laredo Boko (V85-7) has delivered two brutal finishes in both starts this year and has really built up his form. Now he has also drawn an interesting post. He can leave quickly but hasn’t had the right conditions before. Now it’s more interesting to be involved from the start. It’s actually the first time the horse has had a proper winter training. In previous years he has either been in France or just raced continuously. It has done him good to start the season with a couple of finishing efforts. Barefoot all around and a regular sulky again—it will be interesting to see him here."
"11 Love To Know (V85-8) found it easier and easier when he won his races this winter. He carried his earnings very well and is a typical Love You horse, big-bodied with good development. Now he has had a training period, and you can feel that a lot has happened with him. He has also grown a lot, and it’s not easy to perform at the top level immediately in a seasonal debut. On top of that, he has a tricky draw with post eleven. He has been to Åby and trained 1:16 over 2,100 meters and has improved from that. Barefoot behind and a can’t-see-back bridle," says Robert Bergh.