V75® (dream jackpot): Axel Ruda toward new heights
"If Axel Ruda can stay sound, he will have his best season so far".
On Saturday, when V75 comes to Bergsåker, Pär Ländin's cash cow chases SEK 500,000 in Sundsvall Winter Trot.
"My horse feels great and will fly down the stretch," says the hometown trainer.
Axel Ruda had a great 2023 and with earnings of SEK 1.2 million and he is growing into the older elite. Axel Ruda has kick-started the year, won easily in his seasonal debut a few weeks ago at Bollnäs and made another SEK 150,000.
"It's thanks to him that I can still keep training horses, if not I would have to work for someone else. Axel Ruda is a true cash cow and I have no problems spending the money he makes. Everything has gotten so expensive," says Pär Ländin.
Ländin knows his horse well and this year, he aims higher.
"If he just stays sound and healthy, he will have his best season so far, that's how it feels, at least. I have a plan for him and one of the races I hope we can qualify for is the Paralympic Trot at Åby. There are some exciting races in May as well, why not Sweden Cup?"
Is there anything in particular with the horse that makes you that optimistic?
"Since he was castrated, he's just been getting better and better. He had November off and before the Solvalla start in December, I trained him at the track to get him sharper. He was not in top form when he raced at Bollnäs in his last start, I only train him very slowly, he has a lot of talent and doesn't need more training now. In a month, I will start training him on the straight track".
Feels fantastic in training
Last Saturday's V75 card was hard to solve, and nobody managed to pick all seven winners. That means we have a dream jackpot this Saturday at Bergsåker with SEK 75 million in the pool for all seven winners picked.
Big money is also on the line in Sundsvall Winter Trot, where SEK 500,000 awaits the winner. This is the first bigger race of the year for the older elite and Axel Ruda is the underdog.
"He is, because of the draw. High On Pepper is very good and it looks good on paper for him. I was hoping to draw well and be able to follow him. I hope for a high pace and all signs point to that, Every race has to be raced, the long distance is no problem for him. Axel Ruda feels fantastic in training and when I trained him last weekend, he was awesome. I'm certain that he will perform really well on Saturday, the trip is up to Ulf Ohlsson to try to solve and I'm not making any changes on my horse. This horse has upset before and I hope that he will again. A win in this race, at my home track would mean a lot to me".