V85®: Repeat win in sight for the brothers
The last time A Fair Day and Maroon Day raced in V85, it was a big success with two victories.
Now they are back – this Saturday, a trip to Halmstadtravet awaits the popular brother duo from Kalmar.
"It would of course be nice with a repeat, but anything can happen, and that is also what makes the trot races so exciting," says Elisabeth Almheden.
January 24. At their home track, Kalmartravet.
The fan favorite, 2 A Fair Day (V85-3), made his seasonal debut and won despite racing on the outside of the leader, winter giant Stens Rubin. Shortly afterwards, it was time for little brother 4 Maroon Day (V85-6) to complete the Saturday success with victory in the Silver Division.
This weekend, the duo returns to V85.
"We have just been out training them now, ‘Rooney’ is standing here next to me in the stable," says trainer and owner Elisabeth Almheden when she answers the phone late Monday morning.
She continues:
"They both felt very good. We are at Kalmartravet, and they have trained on a really heavy sand track, which was the final tougher workout before Saturday. They will jog on Thursday, then be turned out into their loose-housing field. Everything feels good with both horses."
Hoping to go together to Solvalla as well
For Elitlopp fourth-place finisher A Fair Day it was his seasonal debut last time, his first start in a little more than two months.
Despite that, a blazing opening at 1:05-speed for the first 500 meters and racing outside his toughest rival, “Affe” sorted it out to a safe victory.
"He was very good. It was fun, but of course, you get a little nervous when he gets a trip like that. You never really know how they will be after a break and the build-up," says “Lisa”, who explains what has happened since then:
"It was January 24 when they last started, so a few weeks have passed again. First, both horses got a bit of rest afterwards, then they were jogged back into training, but of course, they were long and proper jogs, so they have still been working a bit. We have now brought them to the track a couple of times each week. They have really handled everything very well, and the tracks have been very good the whole time."
It feels like A Fair Day came out of his last start the right way?
"Absolutely, he has been fresh afterwards. But as I said, you never know for sure, though I believe in him. We were also very happy with the post position; it felt great, and this time we will race him barefoot in front as well. The shoes behind will stay on for a little while longer, though."
Have you planned the next start for “Affe”?
"Yes, it is the final at Solvalla on March 28 that we are aiming for (C Th Ericssons Memorial). ‘Affe’ is already qualified for that race, and we hope Maroon Day will be there as well, which he will be if he finishes first or second on Saturday."
The same routine for Maroon Day
For Maroon Day, it was his debut in the Silver Division last time.
It turned out to be no problem at all. The chestnut blasted to the lead with Oscar Ginman out of the first turn and was never close to defeat afterwards.
The past few weeks have looked identical for “Rooney” as for his big brother.
"Yes, exactly. It has been the same routine for him. They do almost all their workouts together; we jog and train them together all the time. They enjoy each other’s company."
…and now they travel together to Halmstad as well?
"It will be exciting. Neither of them has been to Halmstad before, and I think Maroon Day will handle the trip well, too. He does not like standing still for long, but when they travel together, it usually works well. He also races barefoot in front, but has always kept the shoes behind."
The hope, of course, is a “repeat performance” from last time?
"You hope so, of course you do. But you never know, anything can happen, and that is also what makes trot races so exciting. These are incredible animals, and they feel good. They enjoy life and that is always the most important thing," says Elisabeth Almheden.