V86®: Travels to Solvalla with hopes
A Dane who has been a trainer in Norway wants to make a success in Sweden. Kim Pedersen has made a strong start as an Åby trainer and is hoping for more. "I don’t travel to Solvalla with a horse without believing we have a chance."
After an intense Easter weekend with V85® four days in a row, it’s time to return to normal.
On Wednesday it’s time for V86® again as scheduled, with the meeting shared between Solvalla and Halmstad. Kim Pedersen travels to the capital track, now able to list himself as an Åby trainer on his business card.
"Yes, it was finalized on Tuesday, but we’ve been here since the New Year. It feels good that everything is settled and I definitely don’t regret taking this step. We’ve been here for a few months now, things are working well and we’ve already won races, last Saturday we had a double before V85 got underway," says Kim Pedersen.
Kim Pedersen was born in Denmark, but as a professional trainer he has mainly lived and worked in Norway, with Bjerke outside Oslo as his base.
Last fall he decided to move to Sweden and Åby, and he is based at Dunevad Travcamp in Fotskäl, just a stone’s throw from Hajom where Robert Bergh and Christoffer Eriksson are based.
"We train at both facilities, there are very good conditions and excellent tracks. The horses seem to thrive."
Everything you could wish for
What attracted him was the geographical location, better purses and a training facility that has everything you could wish for.
"The plan is to try to race in Sweden, Denmark and also in Norway, I have some owners there. I train six three-year-olds born in Norway and four born in Denmark. Naturally, I hope one of them can be good enough for the stake races, and then we hope to add some Swedish-born youngsters as well," says Kim Pedersen.
Holds his own in the class
On Wednesday he heads to Solvalla with one of the stable’s better horses. 1 Kalule Simoni (V86-2) comes in with proven top form. The horse impressed when winning his most recent start.
"I think it’s a good horse and I hope he can compete in these kinds of races, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. His strength is his main asset and he holds his own in the class."
Is he fast from the start?
"No, not yet. I hope he will become faster, it’s a clear advantage to be fast at the start. He can’t really take advantage of the draw, but it’s better than seven or eight. There are only nine horses in the race, so it should work out."
Will you make any changes?
"No, he will race with aluminium shoes, a Finntack sulky and an open bridle."
How should bettors approach him?
"I don’t fully know the opponents, but I think he is a contender and should be included on the ticket."