V75® (dream jackpot): Hot chances for busy dad
Christoffer Eriksson makes the trip back to his old stomping grounds Jägersro with several horses in good form, three of them are recent V75® winners.
The father of two young children has several hot chances on paper at this week's Derby weekend and announces some interesting changes on Spartakus.
"The plan is to race him barefoot all around and in the American sulky for the first time in my training", says the Åby licensed trainer, who thinks he has a better chance with another horse in the dream jackpot-boosted V75 card on Saturday.
"I think Mulberry is my best chance to win".
The Christoffer Eriksson stable is on a roll and the horses are delivering in every start. At home, it is just as busy, for the father of two, after his girlfriend Isabella Bergh gave birth to the couple's second daughter earlier this summer.
"Cornelia is three years old and Mathilda is three months old now. It's busy but it's a wonderful feeling to be the father of two now. Mathilda is quiet, while Cornelia is wild", says Christoffer, laughing.
And adds quickly:
But it's fantastic, of course. Just wonderful".
"In excellent form — usually wins in this class"
Last year was a career-best for the Åby licensed trainer, as his stable made SEK 8.5 million. As of August 26, the earnings are at SEK 5.5 million and Christoffer's horses have shown good form this summer. He has had several V75 winners in the last few months and three of them are headed to Jägersro for the upcoming Derby weekend. Christoffer Eriksson has five V75 starters this Saturday, on a card once again boosted by a so-called dream jackpot, with SEK 75 million in the pool for all seven winners picked.
We go through the horses as they appear in the program and he announces some interesting changes, particularly on one of his starters. But we start with Mulberry, who has two wins in his last three starts.
"4 Mulberry (V75-5) races well every time and he and "Calle" (Carl Johan Jepson) are a good team, so he will keep driving him. His last effort was great as he left hard and set a fast pace in the lead and he felt good in training today (Monday). He drew well and he usually wins in this class. No changes", says Christoffer Eriksson.
"9 Grappa Boy (V75-5) struggled with the surface in his last start at Gävle. He couldn't get his gait together and with that in mind, it was good of him to still trot in 1:11. I have tried him on the sprint distance a few times to get more speed into him. He won two starts ago, following a sprint race, and I think his form is good. These are good conditions for him and a good post where he can get a nice trip and save his speed for the end. He might hit a top-three spot".
"Felt like she just jogged when she won in 1:11.7"
"14 Organzza (V75-6) comes from two fantastic efforts when she closed brilliantly. Last time out, it felt like she just jogged in 1:11.7 and she is indeed in top form, even if she has raced well for quite some time. She has a good post position, with the 20-meter handicap, and I hope she can step out of there fast and find a good spot. Then she will close well again. She will race in a regular style sulky now that it's volt start".
"2 Spartakus (V75-7) has raced well in every start and he just gets better each week. He has piled up good efforts in V75 and it wasn't his fault that he didn't get a check in the final, last time out. He sat seventh over and never got in the race. He has a perfect post position and he can leave fast. We might race him barefoot all around and in an American sulky this time. That's the plan early in the week and we will see as we get closer to the race. My horse feels so strong right now and those changes should do him well. I think this will be the very first time for him in an American sulky, but I know that he raced barefoot for his previous trainer. Normally, Spartakus is a notch above my other starter in the race".
"6 Humanity Pellini (V75-7) is also in good form and has been locked in twice in a row now. That's also the trip he needs to be able to go with these horses. I think his form is the same as it was when he won V75 at Halmstad in July and if he gets the trip he needs, and has some racing luck, he can get a good chunk of the purse".
Who would you say is your best chance on the Saturday V75 card?
"I would say Mulberry. But at the same time, I have to say that I think Spartakus should have a good chance to win too, and it will be exciting with the changes. But you asked who has the best chance and I will say Mulberry".