V86®: Pihlström in the spotlight with sharp horses – "My best chance is Jaguar Godiva"
Markus Pihlström is in the spotlight in V86® at Romme, where he has five starters.
All of them come in excellent form, off strong performances in their most recent starts, and all have also drawn favorable posts.
"Hercules Godiva has won four in a row and that means he has to be considered here as well. But I think my best chance is Jaguar Godiva. He has a perfect race on paper and is ready to go. In addition, he will race with blinkers for the first time ever," says Pihlström.
The V86® summer tour continues and on Wednesday, Romme hosts the rich betting form, which during the summer starts at 19:20. Markus Pihlström has loaded up and brings five starters, all coming off strong performances in their most recent starts. When we reach the Bergsåker trainer on Sunday evening, he is busy planning the week ahead as the stable has 17 starters from Monday through Saturday.
"It's full speed ahead and we're coming to Romme with some very nice horses who have also had good luck in the draw. It looks promising and I'm most excited about Jaguar Godiva, who I think has the best chance. I believe he's due," says Markus Pihlström before going through his V86 horses one by one.
"2 Jaguar Godiva (V86-1) has been a bit unlucky with the conditions lately, drawing poor posts and also being entered above his class level, such as when he had just moved out of the class and competed in the Bronze Division with only SEK 500,000 in earnings. Most recently he was third behind two good horses and turned in a strong performance. You could say the horse has been entered in the wrong races the whole time, but now we've found a perfect spot. He drops in class, is in great shape, and now has a chance to reach the lead. He's quick off the gate and, without being completely sure, I believe he's undefeated in the lead. He will race with blinkers for the first time ever and will wear a blind bridle. He'll go barefoot all around again and in a Finntack sulky. Everything is set up for this race now," says Markus Pihlström.
"3 Give Me Lagavulin (V86-5) was surprisingly good when he won by eight lengths in his most recent start and he delivered the best performance of his career. He was vastly improved that day and still feels very good, but the horse needs to put together more strong performances before you're willing to believe he can win in V86. The post is good and there will be no changes."
"Excellent conditions now – American sulky this time"
"4 Galleon(V86-5) has really come alive racing barefoot all around and it was fun to see him win easily most recently. The horse got to show what he can do and there's a huge difference now compared to earlier. The conditions are excellent for him now with a good post and I think he enjoys the short distance. He can leave fairly well and the American sulky goes on this time as they start behind the gate."
"3 Realize'em (V86-7) won two starts back, but most recently she acted strangely when she ran straight out in the final turn. She hesitated when she reached the lead and then didn't see the horse coming in the stretch because she was wearing a blind bridle. So we're making an adjustment, removing the blind bridle and switching to a pull-down bridle instead. She's very quick from the start in volt start races and it's a good opportunity to try sending her as fast as possible from the beginning."
"If you've won four straight, you have to be considered here too"
"1 Hercules Godiva (V86-8) had Marcus very pleased most recently when he turned in a strong performance. It was admittedly in a race that didn't say much, but the horse felt very good and that's the most important thing. I think the horse is better than ever right now. He has been good before as well, but most recently he was even better and it's exciting to see him continue to develop. He has drawn the best possible post with the rail because he's so quick off the gate. The American sulky goes on this time as they start behind the gate, but I find it difficult to assess the competition. It actually looks like a strong race, but he's a very good horse himself. If you've won four straight races, I think you have to be considered here too," says Pihlström.