V86 (jackpot): "Intro is the best horse I've ever trained"
He is the hugely promising youngster who has made a big impression, and most recently he cruised to another victory in brilliant style.
On Wednesday, Intro is the favorite in the V86 at Solvalla, where the charismatic colt gets a tune-up ahead of the upcoming Swedish Trotting Criterium eliminations.
"He is the best horse I have trained, and most recently he won effortlessly in 1:12.2. I hope and believe that he will put in another great performance and have a chance to win again," says trainer Björn Röcklinger.
Axevalla and Solvalla share Wednesday's V86 Xpress card. The card is boosted by a jackpot with SEK 12 million in the pool for eight correct picks. In the final leg at the capital's track, an interesting horse will line up, namely three-year-old Intro. He is trained by Björn Röcklinger and has made a strong start to his career with three wins and two runner-up finishes from six starts. His only blemish came in the E3 final two starts ago when he had a second-tier starting position. The hugely promising youngster was otherwise terrific when finishing second in the E3 elimination, where he was involved in a much-discussed incident where he was interfered with and lost his momentum on the outside of the leader and eventual winner Grosbois in the middle of the final turn. He then came back strongly and was beaten in a photo for second.
"8 Intro (V86-8) is the best horse I have trained. I don't know if he is the most talented, but he is the one with the highest capacity," says Björn Röcklinger.
The Solvalla trainer bought the horse at Menhammar's auction two years ago on behalf of his owner. The price tag was hefty.
"He cost SEK 650,000. There were more people than just me who wanted him," says Björn with a laugh.
If you were to describe the horse, what are his best qualities?
"He is a small, handsome colt with a good heart and lungs and a good gait. He is also very strong and has a fantastic attitude. He is a very smart horse who does his job and grows on the track. In short, he is a really nice horse who has done everything right. A real professional."
What do you say about the race he won most recently?
"It may be the best race he has made so far. He won effortlessly in 1:12.2 over the full distance and did not look like he had been fully extended at the finish. In the E3 final, he had a second-tier starting position and things went a little wrong for him, and he also got interfered with, 900 meters from the finish. So, there wasn't much to say about that."
"The horse has felt good in his workouts since his most recent start, but he has felt that way all along, so there is no difference now compared with before."
Ulf Ohlsson replaced – Djuse is the new driver
In just over three weeks, on Sunday, September 27, the Swedish Trotting Criterium eliminations will be held at Solvalla. Intro has emerged as one of the more heavily backed horses and is currently the fifth choice in the early betting at ATG, while he is currently listed at 10-1 to win the Criterium. But first comes Wednesday's race, where Intro will start in Höstfavoriten with SEK 200,000 in first prize. He has post eight behind the gate and will also have a new driver, Magnus A Djuse, instead of Ulf Ohlsson, who has driven him in every start previously.
"It is entirely the owner's decision to change drivers, not mine. The plan is for Magnus to drive him going forward," says Röcklinger.
What is your feeling about his chances of winning from post eight?
"The post is what it is, but we will try to race from there and go for the win. I have a strong feeling that he will put in another great performance and have a chance to win again. We are making no changes, and the horse will race exactly as he has previously. There is no reason to change anything when he has been this good," Björn says.
"Not spoiled with such nice horses – very happy"
Röcklinger is now a private trainer for Stall Hypnotic, owned by Stefan Huss, who owns 15 of the stable's 21 horses. The Solvalla trainer also accepts horses from other clients. In addition to Intro, he has another three-year-old prospect in the stable, Po Tay Toes, who has won two races from three starts and most recently finished third.
"He has been good in every start, but most recently he became a little muscle-tired. It was only the horse's third start of his life, and he was beaten by Grosbois, who won the E3 final, so there is nothing to be ashamed of. He feels good, at any rate, and will start this Friday at Romme."
"I am very happy to have such really nice horses in the stable. I am not spoiled with that," says Björn Röcklinger.