V85 (Wednesday): Red hot Redén can win more major races – "He was fantastic last time out"
The success just keeps coming for Daniel Redén, who is winning major races left and right.
After Saturday's victory in the Åby Stora Pris with Epic Kronos, he can win more major races on Wednesday – both the European Championship for Mares and the Margareta Wallenius-Klebergs Trophy.
"Keep Asking put in a hell of a race last time and normally he should be even a little better this time," says Daniel Redén.
Solvalla hosts one of its biggest race days of the year on Wednesday when V85 is contested with major races such as the Margareta Wallenius-Klebergs Trophy and the European Championship for Mares, as well as much more.
Daniel Redén is, as so often before, the hottest trainer on paper with several good chances of more success in the richest races. On Saturday, the Solvalla trainer experienced both heaven and hell at Åby. First, Epic Kronos won the Åby Stora Pris in a new world record, with SEK 1.5 million in first prize, in an extremely impressive performance for Björn Goop.
"He is being trained solely for the French winter meeting, and this is my Prix d'Amérique horse. But damn, I'm happy right now," said Daniel Redén immediately after the big victory.
Shortly afterward, there was a major cloud over the celebrations after Francesco Zet – who had sprinted to a fifth-place finish – was lame after the finish, where he made a break, and was then walked off the track together with Örjan Kihlström. On Sunday, the news came that the 28-time millionaire will not race again this season. Redén writes himself in his blog on reddis.se.
"During yesterday's race, Francesco Zet injured himself. Exactly what the injury means is still unclear, and therefore we also don't know what the future holds. Whether we will see Francesco back on the racetrack remains to be seen. It is a difficult message to deliver, but right now I don't want to speculate or make any decisions before we know more," writes Daniel Redén.
Had an incredible year – dominant in the trainers' standings
Redén has had another incredible year, with major victories coming one after another. In addition to Allegiant's victories in the Elitloppet and Hugo Åbergs Memorial, Don Fanucci Zet has won the major race at Jarlsberg as well as the Jämtlands Stora Pris, while Francesco Zet won the Paralympiatravet in the spring. Redén's horses have earned more than SEK 34.7 million in total, putting him comfortably atop Sweden's trainers' standings ahead of Daniel Wäjersten, whose horses have earned SEK 26.7 million.
On Wednesday, Stall Redén is likely to add significantly to those figures, with seven starters in V85 and several strong chances. We begin with the Margareta Wallenius-Klebergs Trophy, where the Solvalla trainer has two red-hot contenders in the five-year-old race offering SEK 1.5 million in first prize. They are Keep Asking, who comes in with three straight impressive victories, and Bright Star U.S., who returned to the winner's circle last time after failing to perform at his best in his early starts this year.
"2 Keep Asking (V85-7) put in a hell of a race last time when he battled his way past them down the stretch despite racing outside the leader. He had been treated before that race and normally should be even a little better this time, and he is really on his toes in training. He is very quick behind the gate, but I don't know if we can get past Dream Mine. I always believe in our little warrior regardless of the trip. Racing barefoot all around and with an American sulky," Daniel Redén reports on his website, continuing:
"7 Bright Star U.S. (V85-7) returned to winning form last time, and it was very pleasing to see. He has sky-high ability but hasn't been able to keep his gait together earlier this year. After taking a step back, giving him a break from racing and going over him, he was really good in Rättvik. He is more difficult to drive than Keep Asking, and Örjan knows Bright Star inside and out, so it feels good that he is driving him. He left well behind the gate last time, so we'll go forward, and he performs best when he gets to control the pace himself. Racing barefoot all around and with a regular sulky."
"La Yuca trains well for the European Championship – very good lately"
The country's leading trainer also has two highly interesting starters in the European Championship for Mares, where the first prize is SEK 1 million.
"5 La Yuca (V85-3) finished very strongly in Årjäng, and she got a perfect race to sharpen her speed a little extra ahead of this. The European Championship for Mares has been the goal, and she trains well and has felt very good lately. The race is tough and I have respect for many of the horses, but I think we're coming with a very good horse who has many tools in her toolbox. Racing barefoot all around and with an American sulky."
"12 Meghan B.R. (V85-3) unfortunately got sick before Jarlsberg and had to be scratched. She got a short break, but over the past few weeks she has felt good again, and I trained her harder last week and was really pleased. The post position is difficult and she needs a fast pace up front to get into the race, but I still think she will perform well, and it will be barefoot all around and with an American sulky," says Redén.
"First time with pullouts in a race – responded well when we tried them"
In addition, Daniel Redén has three more starters in V85, and he opens the card with a heavily backed horse in Poleposition, who comes off a victory in V85 where he finished extremely strongly.
"5 Poleposition (V85-1) was good when winning his most recent start and he is in good form. I am always happy with this horse and with the way he has come back. He is well positioned in terms of the time in between races and looks good in training, and he got a suitable post behind the gate. It may be barefoot all around, but I have to think about that a little closer to race time, because he also looked good last time with front shoes. American sulky as usual."
"12 Heavenly Zet (V85-6) finished well last time, but it wasn't quite the same kick as at Lindesberg, although I can't point to why. He continues to look good in the sand, but he really needs everything to fall into place from this post. Barefoot all around and an American sulky."
"1 Blu Warlock (V85-8) shook loose late last time and wasn't completely empty at the finish. He is improving more and more and looks good in the intervals, and on Thursday we tried pullouts on him, which he responded well to, so this will be his first time racing with pullouts. The post is perfect and he will race well. Barefoot behind and an American sulky," Daniel Redén reports on his website.