V86®: A strong winning contender for Lövdal – who will soon move to Bergsåker
In just over two months, the move to Sundsvall will take place.
Andreas Lövdal will then take over Daniel Wäjersten's farm and become a Bergsåker trainer.
But before that, he hopes to fight for the victory on V86® with his own trainee Celtic Tonga. "I definitely think he's one of the horses that can win the race," says Lövdal.
It was in mid-May that he finalized the purchase of Daniel Wäjersten's farm in Solum. Andreas Lövdal is leaving Solvalla and moving to Bergsåker, and now the move is getting closer. In early January, the move north will take place, something Lövdal has been looking forward to ever since purchasing the farm in Solum, which has 84 stalls.
"Of course, you think about it a lot, and it feels very exciting. I've almost started moving in my head," says Lövdal, who has just over two months left as a Solvalla trainer before switching to Bergsåker.
"We start moving in week one, and the first truck leaves on January 5. We've been looking forward to it ever since we bought the farm, and it's exciting that the time is now getting closer."
You have 27 horses on your training list today. Will they all come north with you?
"Not all the horses will come along, but most have indicated that they will. I understand if some owners feel it's too far away and would prefer to keep their horses closer to where they live. At the same time, I've had a few inquiries from new owners around Bergsåker, and of course I hope and believe that we'll attract new clients as well."
"I've been thinking about this every day since it was finalized, and it's nice that the move is finally approaching. Although the actual moving itself might not be something you look forward to. But we also moved recently, so it should go well. I've also been to the farm a few times since we bought it and trained horses there together with Wäjersten," says Lövdal.
"Developing strongly – boxed in with plenty left most recently"
But before he becomes a Bergsåker trainer, Andreas hopes to fight for victory with his own trainee Celtic Tonga in Wednesday's V86 at Solvalla. The card is shared between Bergsåker and the capital's track. The horse won a V86 race at Visby this summer, and two starts ago he finished second behind the winner Plucky Swamp after a sharp late rally. Most recently, Lövdal pushed the limits and entered him in V85, but Celtic Tonga never got a chance from third on the inside and was boxed in with plenty left at the finish.
"9 Celtic Tonga (V86-2) is a good horse for his class who is continuing to develop strongly. He's been racing more regularly and has faced increasingly better horses. Most recently, he was up against the toughest competition he's faced, and I chose a more conservative approach from post eleven. He finished with plenty left and felt really good."
"Two starts ago was the first time without shoes, and that worked perfectly. He sprinted really well and was going full speed across the finish line. I trained the horse today (Monday), and he continued to feel good. Everything points to his form being just as good as before."
What do you think of the assignment here at Solvalla from post nine?
"I don't think the race is tougher than last time, even though there are good horses and he has a second-tier post. He's clearly at his best when he gets some help along the way and prefers to race behind other horses. Then he usually finishes very strongly. I definitely think he's one of the horses that can win the race," says Andreas Lövdal.
Any changes to shoeing or equipment?
"He'll race barefoot all around and with an open bridle again. I'm also considering changing sulkies. He's been racing in a regular sulky, but we might switch to an American one. I haven't decided yet and want to think it over a little more."