V85 (multi jackpot): Good info from the top stable ahead of the big weekend – "That's our best chance"
It is time for V85 at Bergsåker with the track's biggest race of the year – the Sundsvall Open Trot.
The favorite for the SEK 1 million first prize is Epic Kronos, who comes into the race off a victory in the Åby Stora Pris in a new world record.
But don't count out Daniel Wäjersten, whose leading weapon Kuiper will challenge, and the home track's biggest star has no less than ten horses entered in V85.
"I think Herkules A'Lir is the best chance on the card. Kuiper is also one of those who will battle for the win," says the stable's assistant trainer Oskar Florhed, who reveals which of the stable's V85 horses looked the best during Monday's training."
Saturday is a big day at Bergsåker when the Sundsvall Open Trot is contested. The high-class V85 card is also sweetened by a jackpot with SEK 33 million in the pool for eight correct picks.Daniel Wäjersten is the track's dominant trainer, but there are now only a few months left before the move south. Starting December 1, the horses will begin moving down to Bjertorp, which Wäjersten has purchased, and he will thus become an Axevalla trainer. Instead, Andreas Lövdal will move onto Wäjersten's current farm and become a Bergsåker trainer starting at the turn of the year. Daniel Wäjersten's right-hand man and assistant trainer, Oskar Florhed, will move with him to the Västergötland plains and return to Bjertorp, where he previously worked during Åke Svanstedt's heyday. But first, the Wäjersten stable will try to put a spoke in Epic Kronos' wheel and those of the others in the Sundsvall Open Trot and try to win his home track's biggest race of the year before he becomes an Axevalla trainer. Daniel Wäjersten has two horses in the six figure race, and both H.C.'s Crazy Horse and Kuiper were fortunate in the post draw and got good starting positions.
"1 H.C.'s Crazy Horse (V85-8) got a very nice trip from Per Linderoth in the Jämtlands Stora Pris, and the horse thanked him for the nice trip by finishing fourth, and he wasn't far behind Kuiper at the finish. He is just below the elite, and then a starting position like this, from the inside, is absolutely optimal. He needs all the help he can get, and with a good trip along the inside and an opening late, he can earn good money in the big races. The horse feels very good, and now the plan is to race barefoot all around, which will be the first time in a very long time. We have saved his hooves all year and are just hoping there isn't too much rain. The forecast on Monday says 25 millimeters on Saturday, but it's still early, so hopefully that changes," says Oskar Florhed.
"4 Kuiper (V85-8) had a tough race in Östersund last time. There wasn't much pace early, and he had to move up outside the leader and do the work when they went very fast over the final lap. He got a little tired down the stretch, but he has felt really good in training since then. He got a good starting position and is quick out of the gate, but there are several fast starters inside him, so it could be difficult to reach the lead. I think he is one of those who can battle for the win. No changes, and it's nice that we have two horses in the big race," says Florhed.
"1 H.C.'s Crazy Horse (V85-8) got a very nice trip from Per Linderoth in the Jämtlands Stora Pris, and the horse thanked him for the nice trip by finishing fourth, and he wasn't far behind Kuiper at the finish. He is just below the elite, and then a starting position like this, from the inside, is absolutely optimal. He needs all the help he can get, and with a good trip along the inside and an opening late, he can earn good money in the big races. The horse feels very good, and now the plan is to race barefoot all around, which will be the first time in a very long time. We have saved his hooves all year and are just hoping there isn't too much rain. The forecast on Monday says 25 millimeters on Saturday, but it's still early, so hopefully that changes," says Oskar Florhed.
"4 Kuiper (V85-8) had a tough race in Östersund last time. There wasn't much pace early, and he had to move up outside the leader and do the work when they went very fast over the final lap. He got a little tired down the stretch, but he has felt really good in training since then. He got a good starting position and is quick out of the gate, but there are several fast starters inside him, so it could be difficult to reach the lead. I think he is one of those who can battle for the win. No changes, and it's nice that we have two horses in the big race," says Florhed.
"Have to give him extra credit – looked the best of all in today's workout"
Oskar Florhed, who calls us after we have been trying to reach him throughout a busy Monday, as usual provides first-class information about the stable's other V85 horses. He also has no hesitation about which one he considers the strongest winning chance of them all.
"5 Herkules A'Lir (V85-7) was really good when he won last time, and I have to give him extra credit for today's work. He looked so strong and solid on the straight track, and I think he was almost the one who looked best of all our horses today. He really stood out, and I hope it's his turn to win a V85 race now. He has made mistakes a few times before, but that has been partly our fault because we have 'steered him off course' a few times. We have raced him barefoot all around and he has made breaks into the first turn, and we have used a blind bridle that has caused him to break immediately behind the gate. Last time we went back to barefoot behind and a pull-down bridle, and that's what we'll use on Saturday. I think he is our best chance on the card," says Florhed.
Oskar Florhed, who calls us after we have been trying to reach him throughout a busy Monday, as usual provides first-class information about the stable's other V85 horses. He also has no hesitation about which one he considers the strongest winning chance of them all.
"5 Herkules A'Lir (V85-7) was really good when he won last time, and I have to give him extra credit for today's work. He looked so strong and solid on the straight track, and I think he was almost the one who looked best of all our horses today. He really stood out, and I hope it's his turn to win a V85 race now. He has made mistakes a few times before, but that has been partly our fault because we have 'steered him off course' a few times. We have raced him barefoot all around and he has made breaks into the first turn, and we have used a blind bridle that has caused him to break immediately behind the gate. Last time we went back to barefoot behind and a pull-down bridle, and that's what we'll use on Saturday. I think he is our best chance on the card," says Florhed.
"First time barefoot all around will be interesting"
Wäjersten's head man then goes through the V85 horses one by one, starting with an interesting equipment change in the second leg.
"11 MacGuffin (V85-2) will be interesting with barefoot all around for the first time, of course. The horse holds himself back a little when he races and has had some difficulty with changes of pace. He is a nice horse whom we have high hopes for, but it hasn't quite clicked for him yet. It will obviously be difficult from post 11, and he is dependent on a fast pace. If they go 1:15 for the opening lap, however, he will have a hard time keeping up when they accelerate at the end."
Wäjersten's head man then goes through the V85 horses one by one, starting with an interesting equipment change in the second leg.
"11 MacGuffin (V85-2) will be interesting with barefoot all around for the first time, of course. The horse holds himself back a little when he races and has had some difficulty with changes of pace. He is a nice horse whom we have high hopes for, but it hasn't quite clicked for him yet. It will obviously be difficult from post 11, and he is dependent on a fast pace. If they go 1:15 for the opening lap, however, he will have a hard time keeping up when they accelerate at the end."
"Had to work hard to win Saturday"
In the third leg, which is also the Lars Lindberg Memorial, an apprentice race, Monkey Wine will be the favorite following her recent V85 victory on Saturday, when she impressed. She now starts from a 20-meter handicap with Olle Wäjersten in the sulky.
"13 Monkey Wine (V85-3) had to work harder than expected to win on Saturday, and it was a tough race for her. It was extremely fast pace around the far turn and down the backstretch, followed by a major speed duel when she launched her attack. Of course she was a little tired at the finish, but she is allowed to be after the way the race unfolded. It was very well done to win. Now she is racing back to back weeks, but she is hardened from the U.S., where they race very frequently, and she travels well. Of course, we would have liked to see her finish with something left in the tank last time, but she has such good recovery, and we wouldn't have entered her if we didn't think she could handle it. From the 20-meter handicap, there could be traffic problems, and you never know how the apprentice races will turn out. There can be a lot of horses staying two-deep and many moving three-deep, while in some cases everything can work out perfectly. At any rate, she is one of the better horses in the race, that's for sure."
"Has moved up two classes – difficult to see him in the mix again"
"12 Ultimate Scotch (V85-5) had a very tough trip outside the leader in Östersund last time and kept his pace reasonably well as the others sprinted past him. Now he has a poor post, so we're taking the opportunity to race him barefoot all around for the first time since he won't be involved in any battle for the lead. He is a bit line gaited and has a tendency to interfere with with himself, and it's similar to MacGuffin in that he needs an even, fast pace and struggles with changes of pace."
"2 Conrads Åke (V85-6) has put together a string of good performances and has been good every time, including last time. He got a nice trip and a late opening but didn't have time to build up his speed. Good post now, but you have to remember that he has moved up two classes. It was the Class 1 final last time, and now it's the Silver Division, where he faces much tougher horses. He is quick out of the gate and will try to find his way down to the inside, but expecting him to be in the mix against this opposition right away is asking a little too much."
"12 Ultimate Scotch (V85-5) had a very tough trip outside the leader in Östersund last time and kept his pace reasonably well as the others sprinted past him. Now he has a poor post, so we're taking the opportunity to race him barefoot all around for the first time since he won't be involved in any battle for the lead. He is a bit line gaited and has a tendency to interfere with with himself, and it's similar to MacGuffin in that he needs an even, fast pace and struggles with changes of pace."
"2 Conrads Åke (V85-6) has put together a string of good performances and has been good every time, including last time. He got a nice trip and a late opening but didn't have time to build up his speed. Good post now, but you have to remember that he has moved up two classes. It was the Class 1 final last time, and now it's the Silver Division, where he faces much tougher horses. He is quick out of the gate and will try to find his way down to the inside, but expecting him to be in the mix against this opposition right away is asking a little too much."
"Will close fast if he gets the opening"
"7 X.O.Kemp (V85-6) was stuck with plenty left last time, and Daniel drove him conservatively from the post they had. We have that as a prep for this race, and the horse has started to work out better and better from behind and has matured quite a bit during his five-year-old season. Nowadays, he also puts in a real effort from behind. I'm not at all ruling out that he can finish among the top three despite the post."
"8 Summermusic'nightS (V85-6) may not be out of form, but I still think he should have been closer to the winner at the finish last time. He faded and got tired late, and now he has a poor post, so I don't think we can have overly high hopes for him."
"9 Crowe Motion (V85-6) had a very tough trip in Östersund last time that he shouldn't have had. He left from the start and then ended up outside the leader, and he usually throws in the towel early when that happens. This time he held on a few hundred meters longer, and many times he has actually bounced back in the following start after having such a tough trip. Now he has a perfect stalking position and a good driver, so if he gets the opening down the stretch, he will close fast" says Oskar Florhed.
"7 X.O.Kemp (V85-6) was stuck with plenty left last time, and Daniel drove him conservatively from the post they had. We have that as a prep for this race, and the horse has started to work out better and better from behind and has matured quite a bit during his five-year-old season. Nowadays, he also puts in a real effort from behind. I'm not at all ruling out that he can finish among the top three despite the post."
"8 Summermusic'nightS (V85-6) may not be out of form, but I still think he should have been closer to the winner at the finish last time. He faded and got tired late, and now he has a poor post, so I don't think we can have overly high hopes for him."
"9 Crowe Motion (V85-6) had a very tough trip in Östersund last time that he shouldn't have had. He left from the start and then ended up outside the leader, and he usually throws in the towel early when that happens. This time he held on a few hundred meters longer, and many times he has actually bounced back in the following start after having such a tough trip. Now he has a perfect stalking position and a good driver, so if he gets the opening down the stretch, he will close fast" says Oskar Florhed.