V86 (jackpot): Svedberg's talent has found his stride – chasing his third straight win
After a tentative start to his career, Global Gratitude has gotten all the pieces of the puzzle into place. Now the talented four-year-old from Markus B Svedberg is chasing his third straight win of the year. "It feels like he has plenty of money to earn going forward," says Svante Ericsson from the stable ahead of Wednesday's V86.
With no payout for six correct picks last week, there is a jackpot when this Wednesday's V86 is split between Solvalla and Jägersro.
SEK 16 million is estimated to be in the pot for eight correct picks.
At the national arena, Markus B Svedberg shows up with three horses, and the stable's biggest talking point of the card is found in the second leg, 2 Global Gratitude (V86-2).
The gelding began his racing career last fall as a three-year-old, but made two straight breaks. After recharging the batteries for a few months, the horse has now shown a completely different side - and instead comes into this start with two straight wins.
"He has been very solid in two starts now. He showed that capacity already as a three-year-old, but he didn't behave. The horse was simply very unruly, was immature and had a bit of 'ADHD' you could almost say. But now he seems to have blossomed for this season instead. He was very solid when he won from outside the leader last time, and the time before as well, the horse is in a good phase now," explains the stable's assistant trainer Svante Ericsson.
Global Gratitude has hinted at high natural ability in both of this year's wins.
Two starts ago at home at Sundbyholm, the horse sprinted away by several lengths from the lead, and last time out at Solvalla, he wore down the opposition the hard way from outside the leader.
"This looks like a good spot, I think, with a nice draw behind the gate. If he keeps behaving, it should be a good chance," says Svante about Wednesday's start, adding:
"He is a horse we have some hopes for this season, it feels like he has plenty of money to earn going forward."
Would like to see him in the lead
The stable's other two starters can be placed more in the outsider category.
2 Comes with Age (V86-4) came to the Svedberg stable last summer and is still hunting his first win for the current connections. Wednesday's assignment is still an interesting one with a perfect starting position over the sprint distance.
"With him we're working first and foremost on the mental side, he has gone evenly and steadily but we still haven't quite seen the right attitude from the horse. Now we got a good post and over a suitable distance, but at the same time we're facing very good horses so it's perhaps not completely certain that it will be enough all the way."
The horse is quick from the start, do you think he could be raced in the lead if he gets there?
"Well, I would like to see him in the lead, but then again I don't really know if 'Mackan' dares to try him there..."
For the five-year-old 8 Lupin Mearas (V86-7), this will be his second appearance of the year.
The gelding had been away from racing for nearly five months when he finished sixth last time in a race at Solvalla.
How do you estimate Lupin Mearas' chances on Wednesday?
"He returned to racing last time but the feeling is probably that he needs another start before he is in form, I thought he looked a little tired last time after all. He is an okay horse for the class, but here we got a poor draw so I don't think he is that relevant this time. The plan is for him to race barefoot all around now, so that is a plus anyway," says Svante Ericsson.