Inför V86®: Malmin with two mares in good form
Norwegian influences on V86® this week? Kristian Malmin hopes to win.
"Neither of them is chanceless" says the trainer who comes to Åby with two horses in good form.
Åby Racetrack is co-hosting V86® this week with Solvalla and the track on the Swedish west coast gets a visit from one of the most successful trainers in Norway. The Jarlsberg-licensed Kristian Malmin finished third in the standings both in wins and earnings in 2023 and he makes the trip to Åby with two mares who have proven to be in top form lately.
The well-merited 8 Delight Classic (V86-1) has already made two starts this year and has finished second in both. Last time out, the 9-year-old mare closed lightning-fast out wide, after sitting last in the field.
"Delight Classic raced super in her last start and she has shown good form for some time now, she always races well in the winter, she likes racing with shoes so that's no problem" says Kristian.
The race on Wednesday is a short field of eight.
Unfortunately for the Norwegian mare, she drew the outside post behind the gate.
"She's in good form, but she drew poorly. She can leave fast, but so can many of the others and it will be hard to get a good spot from the outside post, we might sit fourth over. Therefore, it's difficult to say how she will do, but she always closes well and if the tempo is high, she will catch many down the stretch".
"I expect her to be in the mix"
The Swedish-born 9 Rouge Tile (V86-7) is extraordinarily talented. The mare, who is a half-sister to the five-time millionaire Oracle Tile, has been excellent lately. Two starts ago, she won a V75 race at Momarken between Christmas and New Year's Eve, and in her most recent start, she closed well in a tough field.
"Rough Tile is a good mare. I expect her to be in the mix here" says the trainer and continues:
"She raced great last time out, they went slow in the middle of the race, so she was out three wide the last 700 meters and that was a tough race, the one who won was very good. She raced great there and also in the start before that at Momarken when she won after going first up. She is tough, this mare".
She once again drew in the second tier?
"That's fine. She's a mare who is very versatile and who races well with any type of trip".
So, the bettors need to watch out for both of your starters?
"Neither of them is chanceless, I think. We are not making any changes, they will both race on aluminum shoes and with a pull-down bridle on Wednesday".
Speaking of Oracle Tile, he has not raced since Prix de Bretagne in November. How is he doing?
"He has resumed training again after he was sick, he's had a lot of problems the last six months. It's a bummer. He was supposed to be racing now, but there was a virus going around and he got some throat issues, but that's how it is with horses. We hope that he will get well and can make some starts during the winter meet".