V75® Gävle (Maundy Thursday): Månlykke A.M. toward top form: "Improved with that start"
The seasonal debut is made.
When V75® SpringRace on Maundy Thursday gets underway at Gävle, the coldblood king is back.
"It feels like he got better with that first start in his legs, and I think it did a lot for his form," says trainer Gunnar Melander.
Easter weekend and V75 festivities.
Thursday evening marks the start of V75 SpringRace—V75 four days in a row, culminating in a MultiJackpot at Romme on Easter Day. Gävle racetrack is the host of leg one on Maundy Thursday with a good race card.
In the fourth leg, we get to see the Swedish coldblood king 8 Månlykke A.M. (V75-4) again.
The champion trotter with almost SEK 6 million in earnings recently made his first start of the year at Romme. Månlykke A.M. looked like he had a chance to win the race but had to settle for fourth place.
"He looked good and wasn't far from the winner; it was pretty much what we could ask of him in his first start of the year," says trainer Gunnar Melander when we reach him on the phone.
He got a tough trip, spending most of the race outside the leader?
"It wasn't that tough, and he was right there except for the last few strides when he maybe let up a bit, but he can do that when he's not in top form. His form should be better now, and it feels like he will race well on Thursday."
Do you think he will be much improved with one start in his legs?
"Yes, it feels that way. It feels like he has gotten better with that start, and I think that will improve his form quite a bit. He hadn't trained any faster heats at the track before that start, either. He had trained a lot, but just heavy training, and his legs were a bit tired from that in his first start back. After that type of tough training, one start usually makes a big difference."
Elitkampen still the goal
In his second start of the year, Månlykke A.M. faces tough opponents again.
The star trotter starts with a 20-meter handicap behind seven millionaires. The trainer still thinks chances are good that he ends up fighting for the win.
"Yes, of course, it's always tough to start with a 20-meter handicap, but I think my horse feels so good that if the trip just works out, he should be right there with them."
Later this spring, there is most likely a bigger race waiting.
Melander and Månlykke A.M. have Elitkampen, the big coldblood race on the Elitlopp Sunday, on their radar. Maybe it will be third time lucky in that race. The horse finished third in 2022 and he reached the same result again last year, when he trotted his personal best of 1:18.8 over 1,640 meters.
"Absolutely, that's the race we are aiming for, but we have to see if we get invited...I think he has a couple of good efforts coming before that. It is hard to find races for the open class coldbloods nowadays; most races are written as handicaps where the best ones have to start with that 20-meter handicap every time. It would have been good with some open races going into the Elitkampen. We have to make the best of it and shouldn’t complain. His next start might be at Bollnäs on April 25 (Bollnästravets Elitsprint eds note)," says Gunnar and adds:
"My horse will be good; he feels very fresh and happy, and with the ability he has, of course, we aim for the last Sunday of May with him."
No equipment changes yet? Will he race with shoes again?
"He will race as usual, with shoes on. In his last start, he raced with stay-in earplugs, but he will have pullouts this time."