V86®: Helgestad: "We're coming to conquer Åmål"
Kjetil Helgestad’s horses are in form and chasing victories on the V86® card at Åmål.
"I think I have three pretty good chances," says the trainer ahead of the STL Summer Tour stop in Dalsland, in western Sweden.
After Solvalla’s super weekend, it is time to reload.
On Wednesday, the STL Summer Tour gets underway. 27 race days at a total of 22 different tracks through mid-August is what awaits as the summer circuit travels around the country.
First up is Åmål, which hosts V86® on Wednesday. Åmål is the country’s only track measuring just 800 meters in circumference and the home stretch is a short 105 meters, making it a clear advantage to race near the front.
Norwegian trainer Kjetil Helgestad has loaded up and brings seven horses with him.
"We are coming to conquer Åmål. For us Norwegians there is a lot of money to race for and I would not be surprised if we come away with a couple of wins. The conditions are there at least," says Kjetil Helgestad.
Plan A is the lead First out is four-year-old 9 UnbelievableTalis (V86-3), who has not raced for quite some time.
"She has had some issues and it has taken time, and she has been given that time as well. She has been training for a while now and doing well. This is a really nice horse, definitely one of the better mares in the crop, and hopefully she can compete in the stakes races later on."
How far do your expectations go in her seasonal debut?
"I want her to get started and get a race into her. The driver should give her a conservative trip and hope for some luck. For that reason the post may not be all bad. She will race with shoes on and that is a minor disadvantage for her. She is the dark horse based on her ability."
In the Ändå Något race (V86-4), SEK 150,000 awaits the winner. 4 Gentletron has a suitable assignment.
"Yes, it looks interesting for him. He is ten years old but shows absolutely no signs of age. He won very impressively two starts back, and the start after that he raced in the pocket, got room late, and crossed the wire without being empty."
Gentletron is quick from the gate, what is the strategy?
"He is very fast early and likes being on the lead, and that is Plan A. If the strategy works, hopefully he can get a breather for a few hundred meters and then he could hang on all the way. There is probably no horse in this race that wants to put on the overalls and do the heavy lifting."
Also starting here is 10 Nelson Daytona, who already has his seasonal debut behind him.
"I was very pleased with him in that race. A wonderful horse in every way and he will be even better with a start in his legs. He is not one step worse than Gentletron and with a better post he would be a win candidate. From a second-tier draw on an 800-meter track it is usually difficult to get into the race and he will need quite a bit of luck."
4 Ready For Cash N.O. (V86-7) won an STL Final at the end of March in an impressive fashion. After that he has made two starts without winning.
He has raced well even if it has not resulted in any victories. He has shown that he is really good and that the horse feels terrific in training.
"He is tough and can do some of the work himself in races, which he showed at Solvalla when he won, and I think he should be considered with a pretty good chance and the post is close to perfect."
To close out, the Helgestad stable starts three horses in V86-8.
"Yes, it will be an exciting race to watch. 1 Nikita B.R. has raced strongly throughout the year and still feels good in training. The post suits her and she should get a good trip, maybe even the lead. I would not be surprised if she is right there at the finish. If she is going to hold off my other two horses by 40 meters, a track like Åmål is the place to do it."
"10 Monalisa B.R. (V86-8) spent the winter in France and it has taken some time to get her back because she did not really thrive there. She is improving all the time and feels very nice in training. In terms of ability, she is the best of mine and should be considered a contender."
"15 Maharasha (V86-8) is extremely consistent and always races well. Everything feels as it should in training and she will deliver another good effort. She is very effective with a late burst and with the right trip she can be right there again."
Which of these three finishes first?
"I have the strongest feeling for Monalisa B.R. She feels very good and is the toughest of them, but if I were betting I would use all three."
Which is your best chance?
"I think I have three pretty good chances. Gentletron, Ready For Cash N.O., and Monalisa B.R., not necessarily in that order."