V75® (jackpot): Jessika's Bosse – a winning machine against all odds
Four straight wins. Now, the winning machine debuts on V75.
But Trooper's road toward the winner's circle has been unusually long and winding.
"He has had some terrible luck, this horse. Incredibly, we are where we are" says Jessika Sidbäck.
The V75 puzzle was easy to solve last weekend at Åby. There was no payout for five winners picked.
Because of that, the bettors can look forward to a jackpot when V75 comes to Bollnäs this Saturday. A possible sole winner is expected to take home SEK 41 million.
A horse worth watching is 2 Trooper (V75-3) who has an impressive record; five of the gelding's last six starts have been victorious. The last four are consecutive wins. But the road to success has been anything but straight.
The horse was very close to dying at birth, four years ago.
"He was so weak when he was born and we had to throw him in the backseat of the car, he couldn't even ride in the trailer with his mother. My girlfriend had to sit in the backseat and hold him. The veterinarian said that we could come in right away if he would have any chance of making it, and on top of it all, there was an accident on the way there, so we sat on the road for an hour or so. My girlfriend said that if he makes it, we have to call him Trooper. He did and the name fits him, even if we call him 'Bosse' at home" says Jessika Sidbäck who is not only the trainer, but also the breeder and part owner of the horse.
Found cancer at a surgery
You might think that all the complications around Bosse's first time on this earth were enough of bad luck. But that was not it. This past spring, cancer was found in one of his legs.
"Yes, he has always been very promising, but he had hit himself in the field and we thought he was getting a splint, a veterinarian radiographed the horse and said that it probably was. When we resumed training, he didn't feel good. He was in a bad mood and simply didn't feel good. So, we took him to another veterinarian who made an appointment for surgery. Said and done, after the surgery, the staff told us that there was something they had never seen in a horse before and recommended us to google it" says Jessika and adds:
"We did, and it turned out that the horse had cancer. It was a very rare form of cancer, but he was lucky as it didn't spread to the rest of his body. He's been through a lot, this guy..."
Whip backward at his wins
Trooper has recovered – and developed in the best possible way.
His recent wins have come in cheaper overnight races, but they have been impressive, to say the least. The warrior now stands upon his baptism of fire, as he starts in the Class 2 leg at Bollnäs this Saturday.
"Yes, it's a lot of fun. He feels good and we are happy with him, and he drew well too. Of, course it's a tough race since it's V75, as it should be, but he has won completely unused lately. The whip has been turned backward, earplugs still in the ears, and a good bounce to his stride. And he might need all that power for this start".
He drew post two behind the gate. Does it feel like the best possible post position?
"It's perfect. He is such an intelligent horse; he is not the fastest horse in the world even if I never really left hard with him. Of course, a lot is determined in the start, but he is strong and tough and doesn't mind doing the work on the outside, so that doesn't scare us. We are in the two path right away, so we will try and see how the race develops".
We are guessing that you haven't given up the race beforehand, despite the tough competition?
"No, then we wouldn't have entered, then you might as well stay home. Of course, we are in against tough horses, but Bosse is tough himself too. Sure, he has faced easier horses before, but he has done darn well and he hasn't been given these wins" says Jessika Sidbäck.