V75® (Tuesday): Bergh hoping for a Nahar-like kick in Åbergs
After two starts in Prix d'Amerique during his career, Robert Bergh is now trying his strong trotter Power on the short distance for the very first time.
The sprint debut takes place in a star-filled Hugo Åbergs Memorial at Jägersro on Tuesday evening.
"I hope this setup gives him a similar kick as the one Nahar got".
Many of the Elitlopp finalists from May will also be behind the gate for Hugo Åbergs Memorial on Tuesday.
The runner-up from Solvalla, Go On Boy, from France drew post position ten, in the second tier, while the hometown hero Önas Prince won the draw and gets to start from post position two.
Hail Mary, Stoletheshow, and Vivid Wise As are also Elitlopp finalists who will fight for the first prize of SEK 1,609,000,
Someone who wanted to race in Elitloppet back in May but never got invited is Robert Bergh.
Power – who has done most of his work in the breeding shed the last couple of years – was ready to test the sprint distance after a successful career racing over two and three kilometers.
"I have been curious to race him on the short distance since he came back racing. Sort of like the setup I had with Nahar, he too has raced at Vincennes for two winters. After the last trip to Paris, it felt like a perfect time to let Power race on our 1000-meter tracks again, and also try different distances. Not only long distances" says Robert Bergh.
Before returning to the races in April this year at Umåker, the 7-year-old hadn't raced for over a year.
In May, he raced in Harper Hanovers race instead of Elitloppet.
Was flying home in Norway
His first win after the layoff came in his sixth start of the year. This was during the midsummer weekend in a three-kilometer race in Skellefteå.
Bergh gave his horse a good trip and didn't ask Power for speed until he sprinted to win down the home stretch. The setup is much like the one Bergh had for his horse Nahar back in 2013. At age 8, Nahar made his debut on the short distance in Gävle, and the following weekend, the horse won Elitloppet.
"I'm not so happy that he has been forced to go two- and three-wide in all his starts back. In Skellefteå he good a nice trip and also last time out, in Norway. Now he has crossed the wire completely unused twice in a row, that feels very good".
You drew post three with him in Hugo Åbergs Memorial (V75-6) on Tuesday. Do you think he is a win candidate or is it too tough to ask that of him, since this is his first start over 1,609 meters?
"It turned out to be a very good race and it feels like he needs things to go his way a bit at Jägersro. But as good as he feels now, I'm excited to race him. A very exciting start. As far equipment goes, he will race as he did in Norway, barefoot all around again".
Which horses do you think will be the toughest ones to beat?
"The French horse, Go On Boy felt very hot when he got invited, but then he drew a tricky post. The fast leavers drew the best posts...it's as usual, the horses from post one to five have the best chance".
Power is also invited to Åby Stora Pris in a few weeks, over 3,140 meters. How would you compare the Tuesday start to the one at Åby?
"We know that he likes long-distance racing and he probably benefits more than many of his opponents from the distance. But 1,609 meters is fun to try and I am really looking forward to that. Hopefully, he will race well in both those races and we can keep him in good form. If so, he will also race at Bergsåker at the end of August (Sundsvall Open Trot)".
How is Power trained there at the farm in Sundsvall?
"We have a regular track here, but he only trains on the uphill track. As an individual, he is a horse who likes to be in control over things. Power is a horse that always wants to stop and take a look around. It takes a lot of time to train him since he stops somewhere between three to ten times on that short little way to the track. He really loves to just stand there and look around at things. He has never really cared about the other horses turned out in the fields, he likes to watch other horses train, and he is very curious. Power is a fun horse" says Robert Bergh.