V75® (dream jackpot): Wäjersten in the spotlight
When V75® with its dream jackpot comes to Bergsåker this weekend, a lot of the buzz is about Daniel Wäjersten.
The hometown trainer sends out eleven V75 starters — three of them in the Saturday feature, the Sundsvall Open Trot.
"Borups Victory and Great Skills should both have a chance to win the race", says the main character.
The highlight of the late summer.
When the Sundsvall Open Trot is contested this weekend, there is a dream jackpot on V75®. A sole winner could take home SEK 75 million—all the more reason to be extra excited about the Saturday card.
Someone who definitely is ready for Saturday is Daniel Wäjersten.
The Bergsåker trainer, currently sitting second in the trainer standings in the country both in wins and earnings, is already closing in on last year's record numbers, and he enters a full squad when V75 comes to town. In the rich Sundsvall Open Trot, he has no less than three starters.
One of the main characters is 2 Borups Victory (V75-7). The 6-year-old is having a magical season, with over SEK 6 million in earnings. After surprisingly finishing second in the Elitlopp in May, the horse won the Kymi Grand Prix and, after a fantastic finish, he also won the Hugo Åbergs Memorial in his most recent start.
"He was great last time out and we were pleased with him. He looks good after that start, as he has all year. The horse has more muscles now compared to a year ago, he has gotten better with age, but at the same time, he races with pretty much the same shoeing as he has since we got him", says Daniel Wäjersten.
You drew post position two behind the gate. Was that the post you dreamt of?
"He drew a great post position, but I won't start thinking about a race plan until maybe 10 AM on Saturday...until then, we have a lot of work to focus on. But, as I said, all is well with the horse".
Locked in — Great Skills wants revenge
Daniel also starts 4 Great Skills (V75-7) in the Sundsvall Open Trot.
The star mare raced at Solvalla last Wednesday when she tried to defend her title from last year in the European Championships for Mares, but from the inside post, she was locked in and never got the chance. Great Skills crossed the finish line completely unused and she now wants revenge, with Ulf Ohlsson in the sulky for the first time.
"It didn't turn out the way we hoped, last time out, she got stuck behind horses which is also one of the reasons why we chose to race her here. She doesn't have to travel and the money is good. We entered her with an American sulky this time and plan to race her in it, it will be interesting to try her in one. Great Skills is very strong and races well with any trip, I think she belongs here, not just against the best mares, but against the best trotters in Europe".
The dark horse from the Wäjersten stable is 5 Mellby Jinx (V75-7) who has finished second in the gold division in his last two starts.
"We took a shot with Mellby Jinx and entered him and he got in. He also feels really good right now and, as I said, it's our home track. Melly Jinx is fast out of the gate and easy to drive and I'm sure he will get a good check, but he can't beat the three, or four best horses in a race like this".
What are the plans for Borups Victory and Great Skills after the Saturday start?
"The plan for Borups Victory is to race in the UET Elite Circuit final at Vincennes, on October 11 after this and Great Skills has the Swedish Championships for Mares coming up. Those are the plans as of now".
Mellby Joker deserves to win soon
Plenty of Wäjersten trained horses are in all the V75 legs on Saturday.
Daniel goes through all his starters and starts with the bronze division, where the stable sends out 3 Kilgore (V75-2) and 11 Kingen Mearas (V75-2).
"Kilgore is in good form and these conditions suit him well, he is quick out of the gate even if I don't know how his opponents can leave. Kingen is in top form, he has raced well in every start this year, apart from that one time in Norway. His post position is not so good, but we have to try to find a spot somewhere. At the same time, the conditions are better for Kilgore this time and Kingen Mearas would have preferred if the race was another 500 meters".
In the third leg, the silver division, you have four starters: 1 Night Art, 2 H.C.'s Crazy Horse, 5 Mellby Joker, and 10 Kingslayer Pellini (V75-3)?
"Night Art drew a nice post and he has raced in the silver division earlier, Ulf Ohlsson has driven him before and can make the best of it, so we will see where they end up. H.C.'s Crazy Horse races well and is consistent, he always does his best and drew a perfect post. Mellby Joker is winless this year, but he races great every time and has raced against horses like Winterburn and Lozano di Quattro lately, and he has constantly raced in V75. He deserves to win soon and he can also leave pretty well. Kingslayer Pellini is new in this class and has raced in easier races, but has done well, so we will try him in the silver division now that it's here at home, and he will do OK there".
9 Mellby Kaliber (V75-4) and Lisa Giljam represent the stable in the Swedish Championships for female drivers. The gelding had three consecutive wins before his last start when he made a break?
"Yes, he knuckled over and made a break, he has done that before. Other than that, the horse feels just as good as before and is in good form. Lisa knows him well, she takes care of him and they should have a chance in here too, even if post nine isn't as good as you might think".
Lastly, 1 Zigzag Zagazoo (V75-1) in the lowest V75 class. What can you say about him?
"He's a horse with a good amount of talent and this time we will race him with shoes, I think that will work better than last time. I haven't given up on him, even if post one might not be the best, but he will have to take care of things himself in the start. I have a hard time seeing him holding up the lead, but you never know".
A busy Saturday ahead. Who would you say are your best chances?
"Well, it has to be Borups Victory and Great Skills who each should have a good chance to win the Sundsvall Open Trot. Mellby Joker might be the one of the rest that we have the highest hopes for", says Daniel Wäjersten.