V75® (Friday): A hometown trainer with four chances
V75® Winter Burst is rolling on. On Friday, it returns to Norway again.
Anders Lundström Wolden has several interesting starters at his home track.
"Travis is our best chance, no doubt" says the Bjerke licensed trainer.
V75® Winter Burst is going into the last turn. It all culminates on New Year's Eve with a dream jackpot worth at least SEK 85 million to a possible sole winner as the last V75 card of the year will be raced at Axevalla.
After having visited Momarken on Wednesday and Skive in Denmark on Thursday, we are back in Norway on Friday evening.
Hometown trainer Anders Lundström Wolden sends out four horses on V75.
The best chance according to himself comes in the fifth leg. The 4-year-old gelding 3 Travis (V75-5) has had a successful year with 5 wins in 15 starts and almost 50 percent in the top three. Last time out, at his home track, he won after a strong finishing rally, out wide.
The conditions this time hint at a different type of trip.
"Travis closed well in his last start and has raced well all year. It looks good for him on paper this time. He can leave fast, so can some of the opponents, but Travis might be a horse they would like to sit behind. He's a nice horse and he should have a good chance if he gets to the lead, and he is our best chance of the evening, no doubt" says Anders.
Hoping for a high pace in the last leg
Lundström Wolden's other three starters on the Bjerke V75 card should not be ignored either.
Already in the first leg, 10 Dixiechick Hanover (V75-1) makes her first start for her new trainer.
The U.S.-born mare was previously trained by Frode Hamre and she now makes her first start in two and a half months.
"She has been with us for around three weeks and she trains well, but you have to judge her based on her prior starts. She has shown that she races best when she is in or near the lead, so the post position isn't the best this time. Per Oleg Midtfjeld has driven her before and he can drive her the way he sees fit. You can tell she's a nice and fast trotter, but it's a bit hard for me to estimate her chances here".
How about 2 Anna Maserati (V75-2), who is one of only two horses on the starting distance in her race?
"Anna Maserati has shown good progress since she came to us and she was locked in, climbing over horses in her last start. It's an interesting task ahead this time, but she is not particularly quick in the start. Tiras Perla is though, and I think she will win this race, but if she makes a break or races poorly, Anna Maserati could be a winning candidate and should be interesting if you're playing with more than one horse in this race".
You close out the card by driving 9 M.H. Hot Cash (V75-7), who finally got a win in his last start?
"Yes, M.H. Hot Cash has raced well in many starts this year; he keeps developing. He's the type of horse that needs a high pace, then he can close very well. We drew post nine again and that's OK, but a lot depends on how we get away. Cool Trix should be the favorite, but maybe Ole Johan Östre (with 8 Cabron eds note) can take the lead, it's not impossible. As I said, my horse needs a high pace to be able to catch them. If we get that, he will be right there" says Anders Lundström Wolden.