V75® Färjestad (Good Friday): Bang the table for the Norwegian star
Elitloppet is the dream with Devilish Hill.
The American horse that was left in training with Geir Vegard Gundersen as a 3-year-old is Norway's most exciting trotter, who mowed his way through the Swedish 4-year-old stakes last year.
How will he do in his seasonal debut in the 5-year-old race Prins Carl Philips Jubileumslopp at Färjestad on Good Friday?
"He looks great, and we still have Elitloppet as our dream. Bang the table," says trainer Gundersen, as it is the Norwegian way of saying knock on wood.
Easter week with V75 SpringRace means V75® from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday.
The Good Friday race day at Färjestad is the second day of four in the cavalcade, which culminates in a multi-jackpot on Easter Sunday at Romme. The feature is Prins Carl Philips Jubileumslopp for 5-year-olds, a race over 1,640 meters that has proven to be a speed fest over the years.
This year seems to be no exception. Geir Vegard Gundersen has a horse that can leave fast, and the plan is to get Devilsh Hill to the lead as the gates open.
"I don't want to sound cocky but I think he will get the lead. He can leave fast, and Magnus will do what he can to get there," says the Norwegian trainer.
The Elitlopp dream is alive
Support Justice is one of many stars to emerge from the Gundersen stable over the years. He made a break in his Elitlopp elimination in 2025 (as one of the favorites), and that was that.
Going into this season, it looks better than in many years for trainer Gundersen when it comes to Elitloppet.
Kjell Magne Andersen owns many horses, and he decided to move Devilish Hill from Lucas Wallin in the United States after 21 starts at age two and three on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
"He came to us in the fall as a 3-year-old and after a winter of training, we knew we had a good horse with us to the Fyraårseliten at the Solvalla Elitlopp weekend last year. He had trained well, but we had never tried him in a race. We didn't know exactly how good he was. He raced well in the States but wasn't tough enough in the races over there. He liked our uphill training in the winter and became stronger and stronger. Devilish Hill was very impressive at Solvalla, and he just kept on progressing," says Trainer Gundersen, who runs Team Gundersen together with his son, the driver Magnus Teien.
Raced against older horses in Oslo
His first start in Europe in the Fyraårseliten resulted in a win in 1:09.3 over the mile (1,609 meters). The fast American horse then went on to finish fourth against older horses in the Oslo Grand Prix.
The season was completed after winning three consecutive starts in Sweden in the 4-year-old stakes.
There were talks about him already after his win in May of last year. Could he be Norway's next horse in the Elitloppet?
"We quit with him early last year so that we could get him ready for this year. We decided already last fall that he would make his seasonal debut in Prins Carl Philips Jubileumslopp. He has felt very, very good in training going into this season," says the trainer.
And adds the Norwegian way of saying knock on wood.
"The dream is a spot in the Elitlopp. Everything has to go right – bang the table!"
"I believe in my horse for Friday"
Geir Vegard praises his horse, who he says feels fantastic.
"I believe in my horse for Friday. He has trained so well that I can say that he feels at least as good as he did going into last year. But we know these are live animals. Everyone working with trotters in Europe dreams about the Elitloppet. But there are only 16 spots. I have gotten calls from many racetracks in different countries who want to discuss the route after that race, but I have done this for 30 years, so I know not to take anything for granted."
The plan is to be aggressive as the gates open up on Friday?
"He is naturally quick behind the gate, and I hope he will get to the lead. That would be the best. Since he was very good in his seasonal debut last year, we hope he will show good form now too. The equipment will be the same as he raced with last year: barefoot all around, American sulky, and an open bridle," says Geir Vegard Gundersen.
You also have a horse in the three-kilometer race at Färjestad. 11 Orlando Young (V75-7) raced in Harper Hanover's race last year and finished sixth. He also makes his first start of the year.
"He trained well this past winter, and he gave us many good efforts last year. He is a bit heavy and chubby now and might need a start before he is in good form. But he's a good horse. He will race barefoot all around just as before," says Geir Vegard Gundersen.
Footnote: V75 starts at 15:00 on Good Friday.