V75®: Hamre on his Norwegian star trotter: "He is strong as a bear – can win again"
He has won Olso Grand Prix two years in a row and is right now sporting a five-start winning streak.
The Norwegian superstar Ble du Gers starts in this Saturday's gold division – Legolas Minne – and despite post position eleven trainer Frode Hamre is optimistic.
"He has been tremendous all year and is in very good form. The horse is strong as a bear and I think he can win again".
The Norwegian champion trainer also had Ecurie D. in his stable before he departed to the USA and Åke Svanstedt. But Frode Hamre still has a high-quality stable with many other top trotters and the brightest shining star now is Ble du Gers. When he won Norway's biggest race Oslo Grand Prix this past summer, he did it for the second consecutive year. The ten-year-old gelding has continued winning throughout the fall and has six wins and a second place in his last seven starts. Two starts ago the mega strong trotting tank showed that he also can handle the short distance when he won on V75® at Bjerke before stablemate Stoletheshow. He beat him once again in his most recent start at Sørlandet.
"11 Ble du Gers (V75-6) has been tremendous all year and you don't win five in a row and this class unless you're extraordinary. When he won Oslo Grand Prix, he did it after having moved up three-wide and sat parked outside the leader. He has been in good form for quite some time now and he has raced against the top trotters in both Norway and Sweden" says Frode Hamre.
"Two starts ago he showed that he can handle all distances when he won on the short distance. He won very easily in his last start at Sørlandet also. I drove Stoletheshow myself in that race and I was in the lead but l let Ble du Gers go to after one lap because I didn't want him on my outside. He is strong as a bear and won easily without being tired".
"I trained him last Friday and he felt very good. He feels fantastic and he will train once this week too, then he will be ready for Saturday".
"Racing with shoes is nothing that bothers him particularly"
The Saturday start will take place at Åby who is hosting V75 this week. The gold division this week is Legolas Minne, with SEK 200,000 to the winner. Björn Goop gets the call behind Ble du Gers this time and despite post position eleven in the second tier, Frode Hamre has not given up. Quite the opposite actually and having to race with shoes is nothing that bothers the horse, according to the trainer.
"Post position eleven isn't all that bad and since they have the passing lane at Åby, there's usually more action in the races there. He is strong and can make a move up outside the leader and do the hard work himself if necessary".
"Racing with shoes this time is nothing that bothers him particularly. He has raced with shoes several times for me and I don't think that is a big deal for him. Nothing to worry about".
"I definitely think he can win again despite the post position. He will race in an American sulky and with a pull-down bridle again" says Frode Hamre.
"One of the best mares in Norway in her class"
You also have Sofies Case racing in the last V75 leg, a mare that also is used to winning proven by her 17 lifetime wins. What do you think of her chances from post position six behind the gate over the short distance, together with Erik Adielsson?
"6 Sofies Case (V75-7) has won many races in Norway and she has been good. She is one of the best mares in Norway in her class. She has been off for a month since her last start but she feels good in training. I am very pleased with how she has felt the last couple of times in training and she pretty much always races well".
"This time she drew a bit towards the outside and she is also in against tough mares. She usually races barefoot upfront which is the optimal balance for her, but we are not allowed to do that now. I think she will race well, but I don't have any feeling that she can win".