V75®: "It's like driving a racecar"
The undefeated Brenne Borken could be the new colblood superstar.
This Saturday, he chases his 15th consecutive win in the prestigious Unionskapen.
"He's a fantastic horse. It's like driving a racecar," says Øystein Tjomsland.
Unionstravet was first raced in 2005, 100 years after the end of the Swedish-Norwegian union. The tradition is kept alive and on Saturday, Sweden and Norway have a joint V75® card at Färjestad Racetrack in Karlstad.
The feature of the day is Unionskampen for coldbloods with SEK 300,000 to the winner and Øystein Tjomsland has entered his new star trotter Brenne Borken (V75-3), who after 14 lifetime starts, is still undefeated.
"Sitting behind a horse like Brenne Borken is one of the most awesome feelings you can experience. It's like driving a racecar, he has such raw power in his body," says Tjomsland.
The 5-year-old has been raced sporadically throughout his career, but has proven to be an extraordinary horse and he won the Norwegian Kriterium as a 3-year-old and the Derby as a 4-year-old.
"We have taken it easy with him on purpose. He grew a lot between in each racing season and we have chosen to not race against the best ones yet. He is getting to that level where he can take them on. It's tough for a 5-year-old to race against the older elite, even if a horse like Brenne Borken has the talent, the body must be ready for it, that's why we have been so careful with him".
First time racing against the elite
Brenne Borken has made four starts this year and has not been close to losing. The plan is to ease him into the elite this fall and next year, the aim is set at Elitkampen during the Elitlopp weekend.
"We would love to try that and we hope we can get him up to the level needed to race in that sort of race. That is absolutely one of next year's biggest goals".
After the win last time out, Tjomsland chose to aim at Unionskampen on Saturday, the first time Brenne Borken takes on the coldblood elite.
"He was great in his last start and won easily. It will be exciting to see where he's at compared to these horses. They won't leave him behind, I'm sure of that".
There is no lack of opponents. Øystein Tjomsland also starts Tangen Bork, who won Elitkampen this year and sits on top of the coldblood throne in all of the Nordic countries, so far, might be safe to add.
"He's also a fantastic horse. He has no weakness, trains well, and usually ends up in the photo and I think he will again, he's a very tough opponent for Brenne Borken. There are several tough opponents and I look forward to the race on Saturday".
The Swedish hopes are first and foremost the horses who finished first and second in the Swedish Championships; Månlykke A.M. who will race barefoot for the first time in over two years, and Järvsöodin who won his most recent start at Skellefteå in 1:22.0/1,640 meters, with plenty left in his tank.
Startlist
Unionskampen 2024 (V75-3)
2,140 meters autostart
- Månlykke A.M. - Magnus A Djuse
- Stumne Fyr - Ole Johan Östre
- Balder Odin - Svein O Wassberg
- Oppgårdsdrängen - Mats E Djuse
- Lysjö Kasper - Kristina Larsson
- Järvsöodin - Marcus Lilius
- Tangen Bork - Tom Erik Solberg
- Tekno Jerven - Jimmy Jonsson
- Brenne Borken - Öystein Tjomsland
First prize: SEK 300,000