V85: (Sunday) A Midsummer dance with a dream post for A Fair Day
Another Midsummer dance awaits Lisa and Affe.
Fairytale horse A Fair Day from Kalmar did not manage to reach the final of the Elitlopp a few weeks ago but did what he could against the best trotters in the world.
Elisabeth Almheden now sets her sights on the Kalmarsundspokalen on Sunday instead, where it was a huge success last year.
"I hope and believe it can go our way again."
The Midsummer weekend traditionally concludes with V85 in Kalmar on Sunday.
A race day that local amateur trainer Elisabeth Almheden would not want to miss … "for all the butter in Småland", to quote the old Swedish expression.
Soon-to-be seven-time millionaire A Fair Day finished sixth in his Elitlopp elimination and did not make the final this year. In the elimination race he got a trip bit back in the field and it was tough for "Affe" and driver Oscar Ginman to make up ground on Solvalla's fast track.
"They were where they were and the horse put in a very good performance. We are absolutely satisfied with that effort. The margins are so small all the time, one small opening at the right second and things could have turned out completely differently," says Elisabeth Almheden.
The preparations for the Elitlopp could also have been better with too much fresh grass and a bout of colic. Ideally she wants her horses out on pasture all the time but is forced to be a frugal feeder with a horse like A Fair Day. Ahead of Midsummer at Kalmar racetrack everything should be back to normal.
Fourth straight Midsummer start
Almheden does not want to miss the festivities at her home track. A Fair Day is participating for the fourth year in a row and has worked his way up to the Gold Division after winning a Class I leg in Kalmar in 2023 and finishing third in the feature race in 2024 (behind Don Fanucci Zet).
Last year, the local horse won the Kalmarsundspokalen wire-to-wire in a new stakes record of 1:09.1 over 1,640 meters. In the Elitlopp in May, A Fair Day trotted one-tenth slower when finishing sixth in his elimination after a trip from the back.
On Sunday it was once again post one behind the gate in the Kalmarsundspokalen. The seven-year-old will be a strong favorite in V85-6 which is scheduled just after 18:00.
"A dream draw again. It varies a bit depending on the track but post one in Kalmar is very good. Then Oscar and Affe are right there immediately. The horse is incredibly quick from the gate and has a good chance to take the lead. Then I don't really know where all the rivals stand at the moment. But I hope and believe it can go our way," says Elisabeth Almheden.
Ordering sunshine for Sunday
Last Midsummer weekend the people of Småland celebrated in style when their horse won. The crowd was really into it after the race and Lisa could finally relax after, according to herself, being truly nervous during a race for the first time in her life.
"That's how it was. There is some pressure. It was so much fun that he won! Now we hope for another great day, good weather and a full crowd of happy people. You almost know most of them, at least I know many of them. We are not changing anything in the equipment from the Elitlopp, he goes barefoot all around, with the Finntack sulky and an open bridle," says Almheden.
Worst possible for Maroon Day
On Sunday the one-year-younger brother of the Elitlopp horse also starts: 8 Maroon Day (V85-8). While Almheden and Ginman had luck in the draw for the Gold Division race, it turned out differently in the Silver Division.
Almheden does not know what will happen from post eight behind the gate.
"It could hardly have been worse. Maybe second tier would be better? I haven't had time to talk to Oscar either and don't really know what can be done from post eight. Kolgjini's 9 Savastano is in and many other good ones too. So in Rooney's class it feels like the competition is tougher than what Affe is facing correspondingly in the Gold Division. Maroon Day finished outisde the money at Mantorp in his most recent start and we thought a bit about that performance afterwards. I hope the form is good and we will get the blood test results we took after the race at the beginning of this week. He will not start if he is sick, but we don't think that he is. I hope everything is fine. He feels normal in training and in his behavior. Very fresh. He races barefoot up front, as usual. But A Fair Day is the really big chance," says Elisabeth Almheden.
Surprised by rain on Monday
A heavy rainstorm disrupted the final preparations at Kalmar racetrack on Monday. Lisa Almheden and her brother worked A Fair Day and Maroon Day and got completely soaked.
"There was an awful amount of rain, so the track turned into a mud pit. But we trained on the track, a bit in the reverse direction, and the horses felt as good as they could under those conditions. It was not possible to train on the sand track as I had planned, so we stayed on the racetrack and went a bit faster instead. But with my horses the training is already done, so I am not worried about that part. We have already completed that. Both felt good and now there will be some walking sessions on Thursday and Friday at home and a visit to the Horse Center (the veterinarian) during the week like we always do," says the much sought-after local amateur trainer.
Stormy weather in Kalmar at the beginning of the week – the rest of the week sunshine is forecast in Kalmar with Sunday temperatures according to the first reports reaching 25 degrees celsius.