V86® (double jackpot): Bleke Borken back chasing another Swedish victory
The Norwegian winning machine is back on Swedish soil.
Noralf Braekken is heading to Bergsåker with high hopes for Bleke Borken.
"He has won 26 times from 45 starts, so you have to believe in a decent chance again," says the trainer ahead of Wednesday’s start on V86®.
An easy solution on V86® last time.
That is why it is double jackpot time when Wednesday evening’s highlight is decided this week, with an estimated SEK 23 million in the pool for all eight winners picked.
Together with Solvalla, Bergsåker hosts, and Norwegian visitors are expected at the Sundsvall track.
Noralf Braekken makes another trip to Sweden with his cold-blooded winning machine 8 Bleke Borken (V86-3). The horse most recently comes from an impressive victory at his home track Orkla, where he left accomplished opponents behind after taking over the lead early.
"He has been very nice for two years now…but yes, he was also good last time. I think he has thirteen straight wins at Orkla now. It was a hell of a race he put in last time, actually. The horse was very good, left straight out of the start, beat good horses, and set a new lifetime mark. A horse like Alm Kevin also set a new record in that race, but he started twenty meters behind and was also twenty meters behind at the finish," Noralf recalls when we call to check in ahead of the upcoming V86 start.
He continues:
"Bleke Borken always delivers good performances. Two starts ago, at Bjerke, we were third, but we had a bad draw and ran into a lot of traffic trouble. There were horses around us that did not go that well, and we were out in both three- and four-wide in a sprint race, and that does not work, not even for him."
Very strong, very smart
Bleke Borken is likely to attract a lot of attention from the betting public on Wednesday’s jackpot card.
That despite drawing the worst possible starting position and lining up behind the gate from post eight.
"Yes, we of course got post eight, but he was still quite good behind the gate in the start at Gävle in November, when he also had a far outside position behind the gate. For us, it is probably just a matter of going forward from here; that is the simplest way. I hope we can find a good spot, that there is a decent pace, and that we don't sit too far from the front."
You always believe in a winning chance with Bleke Borken, one assumes?
"Yes, it is an open class with horses that have earned up to one and a half million, so the opposition is certainly good, but the qualities my horse has shown make him good for his money. He has won 26 times from 45 starts, so you have to believe in a decent chance again. You cannot doubt a horse like this, he is very strong, very smart, and measures up well against the competition," says the trainer.
What does the upcoming schedule look like, by the way? Will the horse continue to start through the winter?
"There will be another start at Bergsåker on February 21 after this, and then we will be even better placed in the race, facing some of the same horses but starting twenty meters ahead of them. After that, we continue with the final of the winter series at Bjerke, so there are a few more starts for him before we aim a bit higher towards the Jacob Meyers Pokallopp. It feels like an exciting season."
Plenty left last time
Bleke Borken will also have company on the trip from the stable in Trøndelag.
The seven-year-old mare 12 Evita Jacase (V86-1) last raced on V85® at Färjestad and looked, when finishing sixth, to cross the line with plenty of unused power left.
"She had no luck at Färjestad last time. Had we had a better draw and managed to get out, she would probably have been right up there. There was a lot left at the finish, but we had to criss-cross around opponents, in and out, down the stretch. If we had gotten out earlier, she would probably have finished very fast."
What do you think of Wednesday’s start? Can she get involved despite the poor starting position?
"We got a bad draw, but this field feels a bit cheaper compared to last time at Färjestad at least. From post twelve, you have to take a bit of a chance. We hope to find a spot somewhere and at least not be locked in this time. The horse has developed a full class this winter compared to last year. She had a period of intensive training and has grown with it. I think she can trot in 1:13 over the full distance, and that is probably quite good in this class. If things work out along the way, she could be in the mix for the win as well," says Noralf Braekken.