V86®: Another Zargo show at his home track after the Boden success?
The biggest day of the year at the racetrack in Örnsköldsvik.
After the surprise victory at Boden a month ago with Zargo, owner Marine Holmgren does not quite dare believe in another win during Wednesday's V86® festival at her home track.
Veteran driver Krister Söderholm is far more optimistic.
"I travel a long way to drive him, and I wouldn't do that if it weren't for Marine and the horse, who is really good right now. It was incredible the way he raced most recent time."
Eight-year-old coldblooded trotter 9 Zargo is the local contender to watch on Wednesday when STL Summer Trot comes to Solänget.
V86-3 is Nordgubbens Minne with SEK 175,000 to the winner, where the horse starts with a 40-meter handicap together with, among others, Svarte Petter and Tekno Jerven.
It's a tough assignment for the millionaire trotters, who have 40 meters to make up on Finnish visitor Karlas, who is expected to lead for a long way.
Most recent time, Solänget amateur Marine Holmgren's stable star caused a major upset in the V85 at Boden together with Krister Söderholm. The victory was a fact despite a tough trip in which Zargo was forced to race wide from the back of the field.
Nobody believed a victory was possible on the final backstretch. Least of all the driver.
In the field of 15 starters, the eight-year-old turned the race upside down over the final 700 meters.
"We were last and I was forced out five-wide in the final turn when we started our move. He was still almost last with 200 meters to go and you simply shouldn't be able to win from there. I haven't seen the official closing times yet, but it was incredible how fast he finished down the stretch," says 74-year-old Krister Söderholm.
The Piteå native has moved back home after a long career as a professional trainer at tracks such as Solänget, Solvalla and Umåker. As a Boden-based trainer, he still keeps a small stable in training. He has cut back on his driving.
"I've been retired for a long time now and I suppose I've earned the right to take it a little easier. The main reason I'm going to Solänget is because it's Marine's horse. She worked for me when I was the trainer at Solänget in the 1970s and she's doing a great job as an amateur. Zargo is a really good horse too," says the man with around 2,100 driving victories during his career.
Söderholm believes the surgery on one of the horse's knees late last year may be a key reason for his outstanding form. But Zargo competed in the Swedish Championship last year, has recorded three victories in the Swedish Trotting League over the years, and has really always been a good horse.
"He has raced well pretty much all year since returning from his break and has always been a pleasure to drive, but now he has really found top form. Hopefully he still has it on Wednesday. He used to drift a bit, but that's no longer a problem. Svarte Petter is probably the toughest rival. But if I get a good trip and can sit until 300 meters from home without being too far behind, then I think he'll be fighting it out at the finish," says Söderholm.
Finally a successful operation
Zargo's owner and trainer Marine Holmgren works shifts at Domsjö Fabriker so she can keep horses at the farm in Sörtjärn outside Örnsköldsvik. She and her partner Leif have nine horses: five starters, two broodmares and two retirees, as she calls them. Professional hay eaters.
Marine Holmgren was there when Zargo was born. The foal was born with a defect in his left eye, but the horse has adapted to being one-eyed and has earned nearly SEK 1.6 million during his career.
The recurring problems with one of his knees have been a much greater setback for the stud horse.
"Last November he underwent major carpal tunnel surgery and it has made a huge difference. It was finally a successful operation after several previous procedures. Now he's fit for fight."
The trainer believes Zargo is at his best when he has clear racing room in front of him (as he did when racing wide at Boden most recent time).
"He doesn't like racing behind other horses. If you can get him out three- or four-wide, he just goes past them. He has tremendous ability. I think he sometimes struggles with judging distances because he only has one eye, but he compensates for it in other ways, such as having better hearing."
Zargo was really good at Boden. What do you think about Wednesday's assignment, where he looks set to be the third or fourth choice in the betting?
"Even though he's just about back to his best after his six-month layoff, we have absolutely no demands on him to win. You always hope, of course, but if he finishes in the top three we'll be very happy."