V75® : Dream post for Stefan's catapult starter - "It looks very interesting"
After a very strong campaign as a four-year-old last year, the aim was set at the elite races this year.
But the start of the season has been anything but successful for Iznogoud Am.
Things might change this Saturday when the horse drew the pole position in Jämtlands Stora Pris.
"It looks very interesting. He has started from post one once before and that time he held up the lead against Francesco Zet and finished second behind him in the Sprint Championship" says trainer Stefan P Pettersson.
Östersund is the host of this week's V75 card and the featured race is Jämtlands Stora Pris, where the winner gets SEK 600,000. It is a star-studded field, to say the least, and three of the horses raced in this year's Elitlopp (Hail Mary, Brother Bill, and the Australian horse Just Believe).
The connections of Iznogoud Am might also have had some hopes of racing in Elitloppet after last year's brilliant season when he made SEK 2.8 million, where he finished second in the Sprint Championship (where he won his elimination) and also qualified for the final of the Swedish Trotting Derby (finished sixth in the final after having won his elimination). But the 2023 season started off like a nightmare when the five-year-old horse made his seasonal debut at Färjestad on Good Friday.
After a long and furious battle for the lead, driver Erik Adielsson had to give up and settle for a pocket seat, as the first 500 meters were trotted at 1:04.9-speed. Seven Nation Army, who was the horse holding up the lead, got to the 1,000-meter mark in 1:09.9 and held on strongly to finish second. Iznogoud Am sat behind the leader and made a break into the stretch.
"We just want to forget about that first start. He was so tired and couldn't hold his gait together at the end when he made that break" says Stefan P Pettersson.
In the following start, Iznogoud Am finished third in a five-year-old open race at Mantorp.
"He was given a nice trip there of course, after that tough seasonal debut. Unfortunately, there was a Dutch horse in his way, and the driver was half in/ half out in front of him. At the same time, Wäjersten stole the race in the lead with Mellby Jinx and my horse had way too many lengths to make up in the last turn. But he closed well down the stretch and we were very happy with him" says Stefan.
After that, the connections tried their luck in Copenhagen Cup, but Iznogoud Am surprisingly made a break.
"It was just a strange, fluke break but he trotted incredibly fast after it and showed good form. We don't know why he made that break, but there was a recall because Flemming Jensen didn't know which post position he had in Copenhagen Cup. So that could have been the reason".
"We don't commit to any certain tactic - Erik can drive the way he wants"
On Saturday, Iznogoud Am takes another swing at the elite horses in Jämtlands Stora Pris. He starts in the pole position as he drew the inside post behind the gate, and that is a dream post for Stefan P Pettersson.
"1 Iznogoud Am (V75-6) has felt very good in training after the Copenhagen start and we are coming with a horse in very good form. We think it feels like his form is great and since he feels so good in training, we decided to make the trip to Östersund. I actually thought this race would be a bit cheaper, it turned out tough with many good horses. He simply has to practice racing against the best" says Stefan P Pettersson.
"I am very pleased with my horse and from this post position, Erik Adielsson can drive the way he wants. We don't commit to any certain tactic, that is completely up to Erik. There are several different options, he can either race him in the lead where he races really well, or he can let someone go and get a pocket trip. We have a fast horse in top form next to us too, so sitting behind that horse could also be good".
"He has started from post position one once before, in the final of the Sprint Championship last year when he held out Francesco Zet and finished second behind him".
Do you think he can win the race?
"We need a lot of luck in that case. If he holds up the lead and nobody comes at him, he will trot really fast at the end. At the same time, he's only five years old, and most likely someone will come if he sits in the lead. He can also close fast if he gets a dream trip in the pocket and gets out at the end. Then he has a chance, but not if he has to go out wide against these horses, that's very tough" says Stefan.
Shoes behind now - but American sulky for the first time this year
Any changes in equipment or shoeing planned for this start?
"Yes, he will most likely race with shoes behind this time. His hooves got worn down a lot in Copenhagen and he has raced barefoot all around in every start this year. But he raced very well with shoes behind many times last year. If the track would be perfect in Östersund there is a chance that we take the shoes off again".
"But he will race in the American sulky for the first time this year. He hasn't raced in it since the start before the Grand Prix de l'UET. I think it looks very interesting from this post position".
"In top form and used to bad post positions"
The Mantorp licensed trainer has one more starter on V75 and that is Hipster Am, who gets to come along on the trip to Östersund. He has raced frequently on V75 this year and he won in Örebro two starts ago, but lost the draw and will start from post position twelve over the short distance this time.
"12 Hipster Am (V75-7) always draws badly so he is used to these post positions. He is in terrific form and raced well at Solvalla during the Elitlopp weekend. He had some bad luck as he had to go first three wide and that was too tough. But my horse was good and he is in top form, so it was too bad that he drew post twelve here. We wouldn't say no thanks to a tough pace but it feels like there are some mares who fit this class very well. The silver division feels very tough right now. No changes, he will race the same way he has done lately" says Stefan P Pettersson.