V86®: Norway's leading trainer in the spotlight – "He can absolutely win"
Bjerke and Solvalla share Wednesday’s V86® Xpress hosting duties, and what could be more fitting than checking in with Frode Hamre, who always celebrates strong success in the major national betting events in our western neighboring country.
Norway’s leading trainer has three starters and praises one of them in particular very highly.
"Extreme Point has been fantastic all along and has won over all distances, and also from parked outside the leader. He can absolutely win, but it’s not an easy task," says Hamre.
He is a multiple-time Norwegian champion trainer and has dominated harness racing in his home country for many years. Hamre consistently tops the standings for both wins and earnings and regularly enjoys great success in the biggest races.
Last year, Hamre once again became both the winningest and richest trainer when the stable’s horses won 210 races and earned SEK 15.6 million, which is very strong considering the prize money levels in Norwegian trotting races.
"We had a very good year with many strong performances and major wins. Above all, we had incredible depth in the stable where many horses won between eight and ten races and earned good money. Meghan B.R. won the Nordic Championship, and she also trotted 1:09.6 at Forus. That’s the fastest a Norwegian-bred horse has ever trotted," says Frode Hamre.
The Bjerke-based trainer has also had a flying start to the new year, and the stable’s horses have already won 32 races.
"That’s as many as the Untersteiner stable has won," says Frode with a laugh.
"We have aimed to start a number of horses during the winter and have had very good training conditions at home, which, of course, is important this time of year. We have deliberately cut down a bit on the number of horses; previously, we had 70, and now we have around 50. We used to have two stables, but now everything is gathered in one place at the farm in Larvik. It becomes a bit easier to manage, and I think 50 horses is a suitable number," he says.
"Has been fantastic – won in 1:10.4 from parked outside the leader"
In Wednesday’s V86® Xpress at his home track Bjerke, Norway’s leading trainer starts three horses in the million-krona wager. We begin directly with the best chance of the three.
"6 Extreme Point(V86-5) has been fantastic all along and has won over all distances from 1,600 meters to 3,000 meters. He won in 1:10.4 from parked outside the leader last year, and no horse has trotted that fast at Momarken. Last time he made a break in his seasonal debut, but that was a bit my own fault as I pushed him a bit too much early. He still won and delivered a terrific race so the form is good. Even though the horse is good and 1600 meters is no problem, the distance is a slight minus compared to several of his rivals. He has good sprinters on the inside that are quick away and he leaves average from the start. He can absolutely win, but it’s not an easy task and it’s important that he finds cover and then I would like them to go 1:12 the first lap. He raced with shoes all around last time, but he might go barefoot in front now," says Hamre.
What do you say about stablemate Canopus in the same race, who has made two starts this year and finished fifth and sixth?
"4 Canopus (V85-5) actually has sneaky form and is a bit better than his past performances say. He had trot left last time and I wouldn’t be completely shocked if he won, but then everything has to work out one hundred percent. Extreme Point is the better horse."
"Now we step up to barefoot and American sulky"
In the seventh division, Hamre sends out Athletic Sun, who recently returned to racing after more than six months off and finished third.
"2 Athletic Sun (V86-7) delivered a good performance and then raced with steel shoes and corks as well as a regular sulky. He should move forward and be in even better form now with that race in his legs, and now we step up to barefoot in front and an American sulky. He will race in an open bridle as usual, but he can’t leave faster than Mister Mustache from the start, as he has the inside post. I would be satisfied if he can finish third or fourth," says Frode Hamre.