V75® (Saturday & Sunday) Seven in a row for Tesselaar's undefeated talent
The three-year-old Novato comes to Solvalla this weekend undefeated in seven starts.
"He's a very talented horse and he hasn't done anything wrong in his entire life" says trainer Dion Tesselaar.
Dion Tesselaar is one of the most successful trainers in the Netherlands. He trains around 40 horses and his trade mark is that he constantly produces young horses of high class.
"Our setup works well and we have gotten the chance with really nice horses and it makes it a bit easier to work" says Dion Tesselaar.
The purses in the Netherlands are low compared to Sweden and especially France and he is not afraid to travel when he has horses that are good enough.
"It's tough in France with many horses from all over Europe. The racing in Sweden is fantastic and it's tough there too and especially this coming weekend, at the same time it's a wonderful experience that I look forward to a lot".
This Elitlopp weekend, the Tesselaar stable has horses racing on V75 both Saturday and Sunday. The horse that attracts the most attention is 3 Novato (V75-4, Sunday, pictured) who is undefeated after seven starts. The three-year-old colt is chasing SEK 1 million in the Breeders Course final for colts and geldings.
"He's a very nice horse who has behaved perfectly every time and never had to go all out. He feels good in training and he just keeps getting better and better and everything is well with him going into this start".
Is he quick out of the gate?
"Yes, he can leave fast and I would like to see him in the lead, but I don't know how fast the others can leave or what their tactics are".
How much do you expect of him?
"Quite a lot, he has never lost and he acts like a good horse so I think he has a good chance to win".
Any worries at all?
"Maybe the long trip, but he has travelled without any problem before so I don't see it as a big deal".
You drive 5 Daniel Hazelaar yourself in the same race, how good is he?
"He is also a very good horse, but not as good as Novato. Daniel Hazelaar won in a good way, last time out and he is getting better and better. He is pretty quick out of the gate and if we can get a good trip, he could finish third, or fourth".
Also on Sunday, 1 Gio Cash (V75-6) has one start in his legs now, what is his status?
"He is good and he is on his way up in form. He trained a lot going into his seasonal debut and it was a fast finish and he got beat by a speedier horse. Now he has some more speed in his legs and drew a perfect post position. Gio Cash can leave fast and my plan is to go to the lead and race him there. I have pretty high hopes for him as well".
You have one more starter this weekend. 9 Riet Hazelaar (V75-1, Saturday) who was brilliant when she finished second in her last start?
"I was very pleased with her. It was the first real start for her in a long time and she came out of it well and should be even better this time, which she needs to be. She faces many good mares and her post position in the second tier means that she is at the mercy of what the ones in front of her do. I expect a good effort and it will be exciting with Dextrer Dunn driving".