V75®: Djuse's elite mare debuts in silver
Mattias Djuse is racing four horses in good form on this year's first V75 race card.
One of them is the seven-time millionaire Racing Brodda who debuts in the silver division.
"There aren't that many races for these elite mares in the winter so this is a good mix" says the Solvalla trainer about the possibility to race open mares in the STL silver division.
The silver division earlier had a cap at SEK 1.7 million in lifetime earnings. For horses and geldings that cap is still in place. But new for this year is that some STL cards let the open mares race in the silver division, regardless of how much money they have made. That opens up new opportunities for mares like 5 Racing Brodda (V75-3), who were already out of this class after the three- and four-year-old stakes.
"It's a fun condition and she gets to move down in class a bit. She faces many of the mares she has raced against earlier so it looks interesting" says Mattias Djuse.
His top mare closed well to finish third last time out, behind the phenom Calgary Games at Solvalla.
"I think it was a good effort. She closed fast and looked good. Magnus (Djuse) was pleased with how she felt. It feels like she's in good form".
Rikard N Skoglund has driven Racing Brodda for most of her career, but last time it was Magnus A Djuse who sat behind her and this time, Carl Johan got to drive the seven-year-old mare for the first time.
"Rikard has done a great job with her, but now that she is older it's good to switch up the drivers a bit" says Mattias Djuse.
Racing Brodda starts from post position five behind the gate and her trainer is optimistic. In the 'V75 expert picks' he leaves her singled on his V75 ticket.
"I think she will be battling for the win".
A duo that can do some hard work
The initial V75 leg is the lowest class, class 2, and the Mattias Djuse stable sends out two horses. The distance is 1,640 meters and they drew post nine and ten in the second tier behind the gate. 9 Ductus is the one starting from post nine.
"He felt great in the final last time out but got run over. He would have most likely gotten a good check, he felt good when it happened so that sucked. He feels good and alert after that start and with the right trip he is good enough in this class. The way he feels in training, he will race just as well as he did at Bergsåker two starts ago".
"10 Barabobbit is in very good form. He has won two in a row and last time he finished second after having raced first up. And the horse who won was a pretty good horse. He also feels good and alert in training and I think he is also a good enough horse for Saturdays with the right trip".
It's not easy for the trainer to say who of the two will finish first.
"I think they are even so it's hard for me to put one before the other. None of them are very quick in the start, but they can both do some hard work along the way".
"Feels great"
Last but not least, 10 A Sniper (V75-7) will defend the colors of the Djuse stable. He will try the long distance for the first time in his career and he starts from post position ten in this volt start race.
"He raced great last time out when he won against good horses. I think he should be good for this class and with the right trip, he should be in the top group. He feels great after his last start and I expect a good effort on Saturday too".