V75®: "I count on him battling for the win"
Unionstravet with V75 this Saturday has many nice ingredients.
The international match between Sweden and Norway includes lots of prestige and honor.
"I hope I can get a win for Team Norway with Imperatur Am" says Geir Vegard Gundersen.
This Saturday, it is time for the annual Unionstravet at Färjestad racetrack in Karlstad. Unionstravet was founded in 2005 to honor the breakup of the Swedish-Norwegian union. The race day has an international atmosphere among both bettors and participants.
In recent years, Sweden has had most of the success, and the Norwegian trainers want revenge. One of them is Geir Vegard Gundersen who comes with two horses in top form. Gundersen chooses quality over quantity. He has won everything there is to win in Norway and as recently as just two weeks ago, he won the Norwegian Kriterium with Just Like Heaven.
"Yes, we've had a good year and we are pleased so far. The future looks good too, we focus a lot on the younger horses and we have several nice 2-year-olds which will be very exciting to follow" says Geir Vegard Gundersen.
One of the best horses in the Gundersen stable is the 5-year-old 6 Imperatur Am (V75-5). He has only made 16 career starts, of which he has won 10 times. The horse has raced in several big stake finals in Sweden and in the Swedish Trotting Derby last year, he finished the race without being tired, and in Margareta Wallenius-Klebergs Pokal this year, Imperatur Am was locked in and was completely unused".
"Yes, it's unfortunate that he hasn't gotten the chance in those races, but in tough races, you have to take your chances and give him a nice trip and hope you have some luck with the trip, which he hasn't had. Those are the only two times he has finished outside the top three and he has never raced badly".
Battle for the win
In his most recent start, Imperatur Am finished second behind stablemate Orlando Young. Surprising to many, including his trainer.
"I have to assume responsibility for that loss. I drove too slowly in the lead and a faster horse beat us. Imperatur Am is stronger than he is fast this far, and he just doesn't have that quick turn of foot. He felt good and I am still pleased with him".
On Saturday, Imperatur Am faces several good horses, which Gundersen has respect for, but he counts on his horse battling for the win.
"I have a good horse who has shown that he is capable of competing in tough races and those races are usually high-pace, which is an advantage for him. Some of the toughest opponents drew badly, which is good for us. I count on Imperatur Am battling for the win".
Are you making any changes for this start?
"He will race barefoot all around as he has done lately, as long as the track is good. But I haven't decided on the sulky yet, I will make that decision later".
The Gundersen stable also brings 13 Dutchess Sun (V75-4) who in her most recent start finished fourth in the Norwegian Derby for mares.
"She races well in pretty much every start and has trotted 1:12 several times. She won her elimination to the Derby for mares, but in the final, they were just too good for her. We were pleased with her and she feels good in training. I don't think she has any chance of winning this time. It's a tricky post position and a tough race. We are happy if she can finish third, or fourth".