Paralympiatravet: Sharp, sharper, Who's Who
The bounce in his stride as he crossed the finish line in the qualifying leg revelaed that the top form is close.
Who's Who will be a blue and yellow canditate to count on in the Paralympic Trot final on Saturday.
"He is sharper than last year - so we are hopeful" says trainer Pasi Aikio.
This year's edition of the Paralympic Trot is one of the best ones in the young millennium.
The Norwegian trained Ecurie D. might be the favorite but at least half of the ten finalists are all hot candidates to win.
Seven year old stud horse Who's Who is back in the spotlight after last year when he got sick with the very serious upper respiratory tract infection called strangles.
This year he has looked fantastic in the two starts he has made, which both have ended in easy victories. In the qualifying round of the Paralympic Trot at Bergsåker three weeks ago Örjan Kihlström let him go three wide down the back side after sitting third over and he won easily.
Who's Who looked smooth as a panther down the stretch and had a good bounce in his stride.
After the race the Solvalla licensed trained said that his horse's form was at 90 percent.
"We count on it being 90 plus now" Pasi Aikio now says early in the week of the final.
Still not top form for the seven year old Who's Who according to Aikio. But it doesn't sound like he is far from being at 100 percent.
"It should be pretty close now unless everything has turned out the wrong way. He has trained as usual after the Bergsåker race and has felt good doing it. So I don't want to complain about the preparations" he says.
Post position five behing the gate is a post position he wouldn't trade for any other, even if he could.
"I'm happy with how we drew. He's not the fastest out of the gate but he can leave faster than you think. Örjan still has never let him leave at full speed. But I'm fortunate enough that I can leave all the tactical questions to the driver" says Aikio and also reveals that there will be no changes. Who's Who will race barefoot, in an American sulky and with a blind bridle.
"They all have a chance to win"
Ecurie D. drew the outside post position behind the gate which of course is a disadvantage in the hunt for the SEK 1.5 million awaiting the winner. Jerry Riordan's Aetos Kronos was very impreesive winning his qualifying round. The French mare Delia du Pommereux, the French five year old stud horse Gelati Cut, and Svante Båth's Very Kronos all have their supporters.
"A lot of horses horses can win. Everything will come down to how the race unfolds. Ecurie D. is good but he is still just five years old racing against the elite from that post position. It's a very good race. I think they all have a chance to win" says Pasi Aikio.
The biggest races this summer
What happens the rest of the season depends on how Who's Who races on Saturday. The plan is to keep racing the seven year old in the European elite.
"We have a horse who belongs there".
On Saturday morning Pasi Aikio, caretaker Jennie Ek and Who's Who start the trip to Åby from Yttersta Gård on Ekerö in Stockholm.
The bounce in his stride and how smooth he looked in his last start show that Who's WHo has taken yet another step this year?
"He is sharper than he was last year. The last winter has done him good, we have been able to train without any interruptions. The winter before that he was sick which made him miss a couple of months of training. Considering that i think he raced well last summer".