V75 (dream jackpot): "San Moteur feels fantastic –better prepared now"

Sundsvall Open Trot with SEK 1 million to the winner will be raced this Saturday at Bergsåker. V75 this week comes with a dream jackpot where, according to the calculations from ATG, there is SEK 75 million in the pool for all seven winners picked. In other words, both the sport and the betting conditions are top class and the concluding leg is a real dainty. Several of the Elitlopp contenders square off and one of them is San Moteur, who finished second in this year's Elitlopp behind Hohneck. He won his elimination in a furiously fast finish and had to do all the work himself, going first up in the final. After Elitloppet, San Moteur fulfilled his breeding duties at Menhammar Stuteri on Ekerö, just outside Stockholm. The star trotter's constant companion Håkan Arvidsson, who is also the breeder and owner, traveled back and forth between Kil and Ekerö twice a week to train his horse. He only trained slow, 1:35 - 1:40 speed, and despite not having trained faster than that, San Moteur was able to go out and deliver in Årjängs Stora Sprinterlopp. He was three-wide around the first turn before he found a spot first over, on the outside of Click Bait, after 600 meters. Once they reached the top of the stretch, San Moteur overpowered the leader and was able to hold off the closers impressively. The winning time was 1:10.2/1,640 meters. 

"It felt a bit odd going into the Årjäng start, coming straight from Menhammar. I was a bit worried since he was not that well prepared, compared to how well he raced. He delivered a top effort, without being in top form. He had only trained four or five times when I was at Menhammar, and I trained him very slowly. So, it was a bit surprising that he was that good and he wasn't even tired. This horse always digs deep and he never lets me down" says Håkan Arvidsson. 

The breeding season is now concluded and San Moteur is back home at the Goop stable at Lökene, as of three weeks. The reports from Håkan Arvidsson are also completely different now, going into the Saturday start, about how much better prepared San Moteur is, compared to his last start. 

"He is a lot better prepared now, compared to the Årjäng start. Actually, it's not even comparable. As I said, he had only trained a few times after Elitloppet and now he has trained nine or ten times after his most recent start. It's a huge difference and he also has a race in his legs now. I trained him today (Sunday) and he felt fantastic" says Håkan. 

"I always train three trips on the track, between 2,000 and 2,500 meters. He goes around 1:35 to 1:40 speed. But this last week, I have let him trot a bit faster for a few hundred meters, and that usually gives him a real boost. I did the same thing before both the Paralympic Trot and Elitloppet. 

"I can feel that he is getting closer to top form again and he will be better on Saturday than he was at Årjäng. It's tough to say when he raced as well as he did there, but as I said, he is much better prepared now. The real top form is supposed to come for the Masters final on October 14 at Solvalla". 

"After that, the goal is France this winter and it's no secret that we are aiming at Prix d'Amerique. We think that the long distance is an advantage for him. So, it feels very exciting" says Håkan Arvidsson. 

But first, Bergsåker on Saturday where San Moteur (V75-7) starts from post six behind the gate together with Björn Goop. He has post six for the sixth start in a row and he is undefeated when starting from that post position. 

"It's a bit odd, but Björn has said earlier that post six is the best for him since he made breaks when he started closer to the inside earlier in his career. But he seems more stable now and Björn can actually leave with him now. So, you want to be a little closer to the inside when it's a tough race like this. Even if he has won all his starts from post six prior, it's not our dream post anymore" says Håkan. 

Arvidsson always has a lot of faith in his horse and he has left him singled out on the V75 expert picks. But he is also humble going into the race and says he has a lot of respect for his opponents. 

"It's a fantastic race and I have huge respect for the opponents. We can not afford any bad luck in the race. Hail Mary is in top form and has a better post than us, but my horse benefits from a little bit longer distance this time. The short distance he has raced on lately is probably his least favorable one".

"The horse who is in the best form on Saturday and who gets the best trip will win, but we all know how good my horse is. I always have a lot of faith in my horse and I am not trying to hide the fact that I think we have a great chance to win. He always delivers and if I was worried about the Årjäng start when he hadn't trained that much, I think it looks a lot better this time. As I said, he feels very, very good and I expect a top effort" says Arvidsson.

"No, he will race the same way he has in his last four starts, barefoot behind and in a regular style sulky. He still races with earplugs and a set earhood so there is still something to do there in the future. At the same time, the horse does all he can every time anyway. But maybe that could be an extra gear to use in the future".