V85® (super jackpot): Martinsson in a central role in the hunt for millions
On Saturday, a lone jackpot winner can become SEK 60 million richer.
V85® makes a stop at Halmstadtravet, and with five horses entered, Eric Martinsson could play a central role when the money is distributed.
"It may be bold to single him, but I think you should include him," he says about one of his win candidates.
Last Saturday, it was very close to a single ticket scooping the entire jackpot-enhanced pool for eight winners picked, worth SEK 47 million. However, the upset Västerbo Tramp put a stop to that when he defeated the favorite Blue Boy Face by half a length in the final leg. As a result, the last remaining ticket with a chance at a perfect ticket was eliminated, which means an even larger pool – a super jackpot of SEK 60 million – will be paid out to those who manage to pick all the winners when V85 visits Halmstadtravet on Saturday. Eric Martinsson could very well be the trainer behind one or more of those winners, at least judging by how he ranks his horses in the trainer pick feature V85 Expert Picks, where he includes all of his horses on the suggested ticket.
"That ticket is only allowed to be 240 combinations, so the selections run out quickly. You have to see my picks as a base system that should then be filled in with more horses," Martinsson says with a laugh when we reach him at the stable between two of Monday’s training sessions.
Good post and fine with shoes
His own trainee Vision of Gideon (V85-8), who showed good form last time when he finished strongly to place second, is singled in the bronze leg on Eric Martinsson’s suggested ticket. However, the Axevalla trainer does not see him as an obvious stand-alone pick.
"It may be bold to single him, but I think you should include him. He hasn’t raced for a while because he was scratched when I entered him with post reservations, but he feels good. He went a solid workout in the training cart today and will get a lighter workout on Thursday. I don’t think anyone really stands out in the race; it feels open, and my horse could get a good position from post three behind the gate."
The fact that Vision of Gideon will race with shoes for the first time in twelve starts due to the barefoot ban is not something that worries his trainer.
"He has raced very well with shoes before, both with regular shoes and with studs, and it doesn’t make much difference for him. He’s one of those who is not disadvantaged by the ban."
"It’s a lock"
In V85-7, Eric Martinsson starts the silver division duo Dats Tore and Fusion Eagra, both with a 20-meter handicap on the Class I horses. Dats Tore also competed on V85 in his most recent start, where he crossed the wire second after tracking the leader Boscha Diablo in the silver division.
"Tore raced well last time. It worked out perfectly when he could hold the pocket behind the leader. Then the pace was very slow, and it got extremely fast late. The final 500 meters were clocked in 1:08.5, and that was really just the last 300, so it wasn’t easy to pass anyone, but he held his position and did well," says Eric Martinsson.
"There aren’t that many volt start races in his class, but I don’t see that as a problem, and facing Class I horses is easier than racing against gold and silver horses. There are some good ones on the starting distance, Rendezvous Zon is very good, but I think Tore should be considered early. He raced with shoes last time and that works fine."
Fusion Eagra (V85-7) starts from the post outside Dats Tore. He also has no issues with volt start and last time showed with a strong late rally to finish fourth that he can trot fast with shoes on his hooves.
"He raced very well last Wednesday. The pace was slow, 1:15 the first kilometer, and then it’s not ideal to be last, but he finished well and gave a strong form impression. He’s in good shape right now and always delivers solid efforts."
How do you rank Dats Tore and Fusion Eagra against each other?
"Tore is probably the one of mine I believe has the best chance to win on Saturday, but they’ve met many times and the outcomes have varied, so if things go wrong for Tore, the other one could beat him."
You settle for these two on your betting suggestion in the V85 Expert Picks. Are two horses enough in the race?
"I’ll be a bit cocky and say that I think it’s a lock."
First time pullout earplugs
Ken’s Queen(V85-1) starts from post five in volt start in the opening Mare division. When she made her first start in nearly two months last time, she finished strongly across the line as third after getting loose late from a ground-saving trip third along the pylons.
"She has put in good races and posted respectable times. The Mare division is not much tougher than regular races against colts and geldings, and the performance she delivered last time should carry a long way here. From post five, she’s a bit dependent on luck, but sometimes she gets away well, and it would be beneficial if she can position herself among the first three along the pylons. That’s worth a lot in these races," says Eric Martinsson, who is planning an interesting equipment change.
"She always races with shoes, so that’s no difference, but we’re going to try earplugs for the first time. We tested it in today’s workout and she responded sensibly."
Eric Martinsson ranks Ken’s Queen first on his suggested system. Stepping Gogo Girl (V85-6) is his second pick from post four behind the gate in a three-year-old mares’ race. She has only one win from 14 starts, but has finished in the top three in half of her races.
"I think she’s a fairly nice horse. Last time she ended up second over. That’s good, but at Åby there are many positions that are better. When she moved up in the final turn, she drifted out a bit and lost momentum, but then finished well down the stretch. She raced with shoes then as well, and it was a good performance."
"Positions determine a lot in races like this, and from the lead or from the pocket, she should be right there. She ought to have a good chance to get to the front because she’s very quick off the gate, and then the driver can choose to stay there or take a seat if there’s a good cover available."