V85®: Leverage toward higher heights
Five straight wins – Leverage has really taken significant steps forward.
This weekend, the five-year-old faces his biggest challenge yet as a debut in the Bronze Division is on the schedule.
"I think the development is pointing straight upward, actually," says trainer Marcus Schön ahead of Saturday’s start at V85.
6 Leverage (V85-8) has always been surrounded by a good reputation.
Over the past few months, the gelding has also lived up to his high natural capacity and has put together a "picket fence", five straight wins, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Åby.
"I think the development is pointing straight upward, actually. I don’t really know how to put it, but the horse has a different shape in training nowadays, a better posture, which I’m very pleased with, but which has taken a very long time to achieve. Now he can really stride out properly, so to speak. He isn’t that big, this horse, so it has taken some time to get the right posture for him. There is pacing blood in him, and that might have been what made him require some time," says trainer Marcus Schön when we speak on Monday morning.
Leverage ended last year with a highly convincing victory at Solvalla on Boxing Day.
Despite the outside post behind the gate, 1:09 pace the first half lap and pressure during the race, the son of Father Patrick fought back to victory.
Last Wednesday, Leverage made his seasonal debut – and won easily from the lead.
"It still became a comfortable race for him, I have to say. It wasn’t a particularly tough first lap, at least not compared to his previous start, so it became easy, and it was nice for the horse to get going again that way."
There had been six weeks between those starts. Did he come out of his last start the right way?
"I think so. We have tried this kind of setup with him for a while, and it has worked well, such as giving him a race against slightly easier competition first and then moving on to a tougher task afterward. It seems to work well for him."
Moving up through the classes
When V85 heads west this Saturday toward Åby Racetrack, the horse arguably faces his toughest assignment yet.
After winning a Class 2 final in the STL during the holiday season, the five-year-old has now moved up two classes in the Swedish Trotting League and will tackle the Bronze Division for the first time.
And against very strong opposition, it should be said.
"Yes, it is a jump or two up in class, that’s how it is. Maybe he won’t win this time, but I think he will deliver another good effort and be up there. Above all, I think he will become really good toward the summer when he has truly grown into the class," says Marcus.
Post six behind the gate is at least somewhat better than the posts he has had recently. He seems like a horse that doesn't need a certain trip?
"That’s true. But you can’t just think that you can go up parked outside the leader and expect the horse to win in this kind of company. Carl Johan Jepson is driving, and he will have to make the best of the situation, and it also turned into a really good Bronze Division, which maybe you didn’t expect at this time of year when you entered."
But you wouldn’t be completely shocked if he were to win again, right?
"No, I wouldn’t, because as I said, I think it’s a very nice horse, but of course you can’t expect him to just go out and win," says Marcus Schön and concludes by stating that no equipment changes will be made. Leverage will race with a pull-down bridle and an American sulky like in previous starts.