V86®: Elfving hoping for revenge with his top trotter – "I think he wins"
He is the hugely talented youngster who has delivered one top performance after another, but never got the chance in the Swedish Trotting Criterium eliminations and was boxed in with everything left.
Now City Slicker is a red-hot win contender in the Breeders' Crown, and trainer Joakim Elfving is hoping for revenge.
"It was damn frustrating last time, and it took many days to get over it. The horse feels fantastic, and I think he will win this time," says the Romme-based trainer.
There is once again a jackpot on V86 Xpress, which this Wednesday is split between Bergsåker and Åby. There is SEK 21 million in the pool for eight correct, and there is probably a good chance that the betting round will start with a favorite winning. City Slicker is Joakim Elfving's young star, who won the major two-year-old race Svampen last year and has continued to deliver one top performance after another every time he has raced this year. Talk about consistency and reliability, delivering every time. Among other things, the horse finished third in the long E3 this summer and was second in the short E3 most recently. But what happened in the most recent eliminations for the Swedish Trotting Criterium was a major disappointment for Joakim Elfving. City Slicker was never given a chance while sitting in the pocket and finished with absolutely everything left for Örjan Kihlström. As a result, he missed the Criterium final, and it took trainer Elfving a long time to get over it.
"I had aimed all season to have him in absolutely peak form for the Criterium, and then he never got the chance. He had everything left at the finish, and it felt damn frustrating. It took many days to get over it," says Joakim Elfving.
"He's a wonderful individual and very versatile"
City Slicker, who has earned just over SEK 2.6 million, is now looking for revenge in the Breeders Crown instead. The eliminations are held at Bergsåker and Åby on Wednesday, and City Slicker will be a strong favorite from an ideal starting position, post three behind the starting gate.
"3 City Slicker (V86-1) continues to feel fantastic, and he's a wonderful individual who never puts in a bad performance. He was much further along at an earlier stage than, for example, Phantom Express, and above all, he's very versatile. He has shown that he can race both from the lead and from behind, over sprint, middle and long distances. The horse performs well regardless, and last time he raced barefoot all around for the first time, and it was like a walk in the park for him."
"He has earned almost SEK 3 million, and last time was the first time I took his shoes off. He still races with a set earhood, and there is plenty more we can do with the horse. He's steady, fast out of the gate and doesn't depend on any particular race setup."
Do you think he will win on Wednesday?
"Yes, I do."
Any changes to his shoeing or equipment?
"He'll wear aluminum shoes, as he has in recent starts, except in last time when he raced barefoot. Otherwise, no changes: open bridle and the Finntack sulky again," says Elfving, who has already surpassed last year's stable earnings by almost SEK 5 million, compared with just over SEK 3.8 million last year. He could therefore break the stable's record from the season before that, when the horses earned just over SEK 6.2 million.
In the same race as City Slicker you also have Adorablecalgaryboy. What can you tell us about him?
"6 Adorablecalgaryboy (V86-1) is a really nice three-year-old who is developing tremendously and won in very good fashion most recently. He's a little inexperienced compared with City Slicker, and the primary goal is to qualify for the semifinal. The horse will get to gain experience and develop, and he will probably have a great season next year since he got started a little late. No changes: barefoot behind, open bridle and a regular sulky."
You also have Aperfectsavior racing in the third leg. Is she worth considering for bettors?
"11 Aperfectsavior (V86-3) isn't quite finished developing yet, but she has still put in several good performances this year and was among the starters in the long E3 this summer. She will be better next year, though. Most recently, she would have finished third or fourth if the driver had continued along the path he was on. Instead, he moved out on the final turn and she didn't have enough trot. She has also had poor post positions lately. The horse needed that race and will be a little better now, but she has a bad post position and is afraid of the dirt hitting her face. I'll be very happy if she can finish fourth and advance to the semifinal. No changes: barefoot all around, a can't-see-back bridle and the Finntack sulky again," says Joakim Elfving.
The following horses starting in V86 have already qualified for the Breeders Crown semifinals.
V86-1: 4 Kingen J.A.B., 7 Sarajevo Games, 10 Maximus Express.
V86-2: 2 Nyharajah, 10 Princessofthedawn.
V86-3: 2 Royal Steel, 5 Grace In Heaven.
V86-4: 6 Countess, 11 Wendy.
V86-7: 1 Jonte Godiva, 2 GooGoo Fairytale, Olle Sting.
V86-8: 4 Kosing, 7 I'm A Dancer, 8 Nightlife In.