V86® (jackpot): "Felt fantastic in his most recent workout"
Hankypanky Readler has been brought along carefully at the beginning of his career.
On Wednesday, the amateur-trained four-year-old is set to make his real introduction in V86®.
"He felt fantastic in his most recent workout. Despite the post, I have to believe in him," says Ulf Lundqvist.
One harness racing festival follows another and on Wednesday, Solvalla serves up an appealing menu. Prix Calgary Games and Prix Diana Zet are just two of the highlights, and with a jackpot of SEK 12 million added to the card, the race day becomes even more exciting. Amateur trainer Ulf Lundqvist is well known to many, but for those who don't know who he is, it's enough to mention the Hankypanky horses and most people recognize the name. Lundqvist has bred several horses with Hankypanky as a prefix and many of them have been very successful.
"Yes, it has gone well. Redbank, Peyton, Dancing, Frances, Pagan and Pinkman. The best of them all was Rubyred, she won seven races from eleven starts, but unfortunately she passed away far too early. That was tough."
"For the moment I have two mares in France. One of them is Racing Brodda, who was Mattias Djuse's breakthrough horse. Among other things she won the Swedish Oaks and earned nearly SEK 8 million. She has a yearling by Readly Express and not long ago had a foal, also by Readly Express. She will be bred to Face Time Bourbon," says Ulf Lundqvist.
He does not only breed horses, he also runs a small stable.
"I currently have three horses in training. Hankypanky Pinkman, who raced very well with Daniel Redén, I brought him home this winter and he is coming back again, and then I also have Hankypanky Readler and a three-year-old who has not started yet. When we decided to bring Pinkman home, Redén got Hankypanky Leonie instead and that has also gone well. She has won five races from seven starts. I have had great trainers for my horses, Timo Nurmos, Robert Bergh and Daniel Redén, all fantastic horsemen and good people."
Felt absolutely wonderful
On Wednesday he heads to Solvalla with Hankypanky Readler who, after a couple of decent efforts, showed some of what he is capable of in his most recent start with an easy victory.
"He raced barefoot for the first time and it gave exactly the effect I hoped for. He won very easily and did not blow at all after the race. He is a nice horse who is developing."
How has he felt in training after the race?
"Absolutely wonderful, I have to say. I was more than satisfied, now he has finally found his form for real. I was not completely happy with him in the two starts before the win, but I understood he was getting there. In a workout against Hankypanky Pinkman he had a heart rate of 64 and Pinkman 84, Readler has good lungs and a strong engine."
Thisis a long distance race, that should not be a disadvantage, right?
"No, that is only a plus. He is strong and solid in every way."
How far do your expectations go?
"I was not especially happy when I saw the post (8), but the horse is good for the class, the distance suits him and it will be barefoot again. He feels extremely good and I believe in a strong performance and I would not be surprised at all if he wins."