V75® (jackpot): Eriksson ready for the big weekend at his home track
He is going towards his best year by far and his stable is in top form.
Count on Jörgen S Eriksson being ready when his home track Sundbyholm arranges its biggest weekend of the year.
"Of course, it will be exciting" he says about the coming weekend with V75 both on Saturday and Sunday.
Jörgen S Eriksson has wind in his sails. Five of the stable's last ten starts have been victorious. His earnings of SEK 3.8 million is a new record by far and with 32 wins and a win percentage of 16, he is also having his best year as a driver.
"We haven't aimed that high, we have just worked with what we have in the stalls and things have gone well all year" he says in this week's edition of 'V75 - lördag hela veckan'.
Regarding his improved driving stats, he says that success breeds success.
"Maybe I drive with more confidence when I have better horses. Above all, I have had much fewer breaks this year compared to previous years. It could also be because of the training, that they are more relaxed in the start, plus I usually drive them myself and I know my horses well".
"Could make her quicker, of course"
The annual Breeders Crown weekend in Eskilstuna is upon us and V75 this Saturday is boosted by a juicy jackpot. A sole winner with all seven winners picked can take home SEK 42 million, according to the calculations. Jörgen S Eriksson has two starters and even if 11 G.R.J's Wolverine (V75-3) has been rock solid since he started racing under saddle, 4 Ballerina Indika (V75-2) is the one who has the best chance to be a part of how the jackpot millions will be divided.
"She's a very nice mare and since she didn't win last Tuesday, she still fits this class. So I thought we should try, being that it's here at home. The short distance is interesting and we got a good post position".
The four-year-old mare starts from post position four behind the gate, as she after 17 starts on the middle distance gets to try 1,640 meters for the first time.
"I'm a bit unsure about how she reacts to racing back so soon, but it could make her a little quicker, of course, and the short distance is interesting. I have driven horses who could leave faster than her, but she is good. She has gone straight to the lead at some point before, but now it's a short-distance race and everyone will be leaving. It could be tough getting to the lead, but we will give it a try at least".
Ballerina Indika got nipped at the wire last time out and two starts ago she closed well after having been out three wide and almost got up for the win. For this start, Jörgen S Eriksson is making an interesting equipment change, to get her a bit sharper at the end.
"To not get nipped at the wire, as she has been the last two starts I am opening her up a little bit from a regular blind bridle to an open eye blind so that she can see the others. She relaxes at the end and I have to chase her too much. I want her to be able to see and race against the others on her own".
Better form and a new bridle
After Saturday's races, the Breeders Crown finals await on Sunday. The Eriksson stable has Lilian Young racing in the final for three-year-old fillies. She surprised the bettors in the semifinals, where she went wire-to-wire to win at 21-1. That was the sixth win of the season for the talented filly, who has finished top three in nine of eleven starts.
"She has had a terrific year. She is great to work with, a very professional filly in every sense. She's a filly who is impossible to not like a lot".
Lilian Young starts from post position one behind the gate and the winner gets SEK 800,000, twice that if the horse, like Lilian Young, is eligible for Premiechansen. And her trainer thinks the form should be even better with the last start in her legs.
"She wasn't at her best in the start prior to the semifinals and it was good for her to get a six-week long break. We trained her thoroughly and she came back into form again. She has raced with an open bridle but I am considering racing her with a pull-down can't-see-back this time".