V86® (jackpot): "Has taken enormous steps – from the lead he is the horse to beat"
Anders Eriksson has had a flying start to the new year and the stable can boast a 42 percent win rate.
On Wednesday, those numbers could improve even further as he has two horses racing on V86® who both come from wins in their latest starts.
"Snickup has taken enormous steps in his development and has become a completely different horse. From the lead he is the horse to beat," says Anders Eriksson.
Bergsåker Racetrack and Solvalla Racetrack share the hosting duties of V86® Xpress, where the card is boosted by a jackpot with SEK 16 million in the pot for eight correct picks. One trainer whose win percentage is nothing to scoff at is Anders Eriksson. The Solvalla trainer has had a flying start to the year with his horses winning eight races from 19 starts and finishing among the top three in 13 of them.
"Those are strong numbers, and of course, we hope it continues. The horses have performed well, been in nice form, and developed well during the winter. We have a group of nice horses, and it is no coincidence that things have gone well because they are supposed to go well. At the same time, it is a little above expectations when you win every third race you start in. We have had good conditions for training during the winter and it is nice when things are flowing," says Anders Eriksson.
He is based at the training facility Östuna Training Facility and has 35 horses in training. Two of them start on V86 and it looks like one really good chance and one outsider. He begins with Snickup, a four-year-old gelding who, after the break in his debut, has not missed the money in four starts. After a tough effort as second from the outside of the leader two starts back he won very easily from the lead last time. Now the horse has a perfect starting position with post two behind the gate.
"2 Snickup (V86-4) is a horse who began his career very slowly and was uninspired in his first two starts. He did not want to put in any effort at all, and then it clicked when he won at Bollnäs Racetrack. Even though it was a cheap race, you could feel it was a completely different horse. After that, he was very good as second, and last time out, he won very easily in a good time with energy left. I think he has taken enormous steps forward compared to the first two starts, and he is a completely different horse now. He is still developing rapidly and has many fine qualities," says Anders Eriksson.
"Now the conditions are good with a good post in a small field. He has only started behind the gate twice, and in the class he is in now, he leaves well. We will try to make use of the draw and charge since the toughest opponents are outside. If he reaches the lead, he should be the horse for the others to beat. The horse feels so good at the moment that I am not planning any changes."
"We will have to try to get them at the finish"
As for Lemon Bar Mearas, he won in his first start in his new surroundings with Anders last time. But it is a horse he has driven several times before when he was trained by Morten Waage.
"8 Lemon Bar Mearas(V86-6) is a nice horse who has made many good races earlier as well. When Morten decided to stop training, it was a joint decision from the owners and Morten that the horse should come to me. He made a nice race from the 20-meter handicap last time, and even though things worked out well, it was a good effort to beat the favorite, who was in the lead."
"Now the conditions are not the best with post eight behind the gate and he will not be able to get involved early anyway. We have to hope we can find our way down and that the others set a good pace up front so we can try to catch them at the finish instead. He needs a little racing luck, but he is not out of it if things work out. No changes are planned there either," says Anders Eriksson.