V86®: Stenströmer has hot chances in Åmål – "The horse to beat in the lead"
Great Time Trot put on a show last time out, and Kipketer Mearas comes with three straight wins.
Ulf Stenströmer's horses are in top form, and they are chasing new victories in V86® at Åmål.
"Racing is racing, but I'm pleased with how it looks on paper, at least," says the trainer about the STL Summer Trot premier.
The summer is here. So is the STL Summer Trot.
26 STL race days at 22 different racetracks, which will be completed by mid-August, when STL goes on tour this summer.
This Wednesday, Åmål racetrack is hosting V86®. A track with different conditions; it is only 800 meters and has a passing lane. They also race in the opposite direction a few times a year.
The latter will not be in effect on this race day, where trainer Ulf Stenströmer comes with horses in good form, who have good chances of finding the winner's circle.
"Racing is racing, but I'm pleased with how it looks on paper, at least," says the Axevalla trainer.
4 Great Time Trot (V86-4) comes out in the classic race Ändå Något.
The gelding has made three starts this year and last time out, in an apprentice race at Solvalla, with Simon Helm at the reins, he left his opponents far behind.
"He impressed me, the horse looked fantastic, and it feels like we finally got him in top form. I don't think he was too hot. I told Simon to try to race him in the lead; we really wanted to race him there, and when he stepped up the pace in the last 700 meters, the others couldn't keep up with him".
The horse to beat in the lead
The race mentioned was on April 30. Five weeks have passed since then.
"We haven't found any fitting races for him, so we have aimed at this race with him. I suspected that he would draw well, since it's a handicap," says Ulf, and continues:
"This is pretty much the best possible post you can have in Åmål. He can leave well, and I think Björn Goop will try to leave as quickly as possible to take the lead. If he gets there, we want to race him there, of course."
This will be Great Time Trot's first start in Åmål, does that worry you?
"Knock on wood, but this horse has never made a break in his entire life. He has a great gait despite being a big horse, so we hope that it won't be a problem on Wednesday, either."
It looks good on paper for him here.
"It does, we hope to get to the lead, and if he gets there, he should be the horse to beat in the race."
Has shown incredible progress
The one-year-younger stablemate 3 Kipketer Mearas (V86-6) has shown terrific form lately. The horse ships into Åmål with three straight wins. He comes out in Torsten Janssons minne, a leg of the Bronze division, three laps around the 800-meter track.
"He has been great and has shown incredible progress lately. He has looked fantastic since the start in Årjäng, and I have no complaints. I think he has looked great, especially in his last start, when the opponents came up next to him and Always A Pleasure could use his speed, but he kept them behind, in a good way. The driver never pulled anything on him, and he usually gets a good kick from that, especially the earhood, but we might need that on Wednesday instead."
It looks good on paper for Kipketer Mears, as well. Could he get to the lead?
"I hope that he will get along with the track, and we were lucky with the draw. He left in 1:07 at Solvalla once, so he can leave fast. The trip might not be that important to him, he has raced well outside the leader, too, but if you can get the lead, it's better than racing on the outside, of course. However, as I said, he races well regardless of the trip. Nevertheless, if you sit fourth over, it will be hard to win at Åmål," says Stenströmer and adds:
"Kipketer Mearas races, just like Great Time Trot in the FinnTack Yankee sulky."
Absent for a year – feels good now
Do not forget about 10 Bold Knick (V86-6) either.
He races in the same race as Kipketer Mearas and has made two starts after being away from racing for over a year due to an injury. Last time out, the gelding came close to winning.
"He has been great in both starts. The horse suffered a fractured coffin bone and was off for a long time, but feels good now. In his most recent start, he almost got up for the win, but got tired at the end, understandably, but I was pleased with how he looked."
What do you think of his chances? Could he be the dark horse of the field?
"We are pulling his shoes for this start; it usually helps him a lot. He is on his way up in form, but I doubt he can beat Kipketer Mearas. He could be a fun show bet, especially if the pace is high. That would benefit him, and so does the distance, even if he would have preferred another lap so he could use his strength. But, as I said, I'm pleased with how he has returned and I hope he will continue like that."