V86®: Hamre in the spotlight: "My best chance if she trots"
The two capital tracks Bjerke and Solvalla share the hosting duties for V86® this Wednesday.
In Oslo, as many times before, Frode Hamre is dominating – he has seven starters on the V86 card.
"My best chance of all might be Nelson Dorris if she trots," says the Norwegian trainer.
This Wednesday offers a Swedish-Norwegian V86® card.
Four legs to be raced at Solvalla, the remaining four at Bjerkebanen in Oslo.
Norwegian horses can be tricky to keep an eye on for Swedish bettors, but the country's leading trainer is often a safe bet.
We gave him a call to go through his seven V86 starters – many of which will be heavily used on the V86 tickets.
The first one to race is 8 Hafa Go (V86-1).
She is a 5-year-old mare who came to the Hamre stable last fall and has won three times for her new trainer. Last time out, she had to settle for second.
"Hafa Go raced okay at Bjerke in her last start and lost to a good horse. It was a good effort by her just as in her previous starts and she felt good last time we trained her. Her form indicator is pointing upward, but she drew poorly which makes us left out to what the others do. She's a nice mare, she's strong," says Frode Hamre.
11 Smileandwave (V86-1) starts in the same race, but he has made breaks in his last two starts.
"Yes, he has made breaks two times in a row now which is a bit odd, normally he is not unsafe like that. Either way, Smileandwave does not try as hard when racing from behind, he is best in the lead, so it looks tough for him from this post. Hafa Go is the better chance of my two horses in this race."
Unsafe but capable – good chance if she trots
The third leg is a coldblood race.
The Hamre stable has an interesting starter in 3 Nelson Dorris (V86-3). A 5-year-old mare who has shown lots of ability but also unsafe tendencies. After having made breaks in five consecutive starts, she stayed flat last time out, which resulted in an easy win.
"She was good last time out, when she won easily. She is very capable but also unreliable. Last time out she was very stable, it looked good and it feels like she's in good form now. She leaves okay and might not take the lead right away, but maybe she can get there after a bit. If she stays flat, she has a good chance to win but, as I said, she can not be trusted."
Speaking of easy win – could 3 Cherry Sun (V86-5) also be a winning candidate?
"Cherry Sun raced well when she won her last start. She is very quick in the start and had post one that day so, it was no problem at all for her. She likes racing in the lead and if she gets there, her chances increase. At the same time, I think the race looks wide open, so, she is one of many who can win it. She has plenty of talent; she was third in the Oaks last year and we aim for the stake races again this year."
Thai Ohio best of the three Hamre starters
In the last leg at Bjerke, which is the seventh V86 leg, the Hamre stable sends out three starters.
6 Thai Ohio, 8 Rockstile R. and 10 High Performance. For Frode it is no hard choice which horse has the best chance out of the three.
"Thai Ohio should be the best chance out of my three in this race, since he is very quick in volt start so, post six is perfect for him. He got pretty tired last time out at Momarken, but he raced outside the leader and the track and that trip was not a good fit for him. Since he is so quick in the start, we aim for the lead and from that position, he has a chance to win the race," says the trainer and continues about the two stablemates:
"Rockstile R. was excellent when he won outside the leader in his last start. This post, in the second tier, is a bit chancy, but with some racing luck, he could do well against these horses. Rockstile R. is one of many who can win the race."
"High Performance got a tough trip in his last start and got tired, simply. He's a good horse who has to rely on the trip and his speed from this post. He will race barefoot all around this time, which is a big plus. He might finish third, or fourth here."
Is Thai Ohio your best chance on the V86 card?
"He is the best chance in that race and one of the best chances on the card but the best chance of all might be Nelson Dorris if she trots."