V75: Lindblom's poster boy ready to return —"He means a lot"
10-year-old Chapuy is still going strong and ready to return to racing again.
Åke Lindblom's star trotter has been with the Örebro licensed trained since he was a yearling and has won in V75 every year lately and has earned SEK 3.6 million in his career.
"We bought him as a yearling at a sale and he's been in our stable ever since. A fantastic horse, he's like an inventory in our stable," says Lindblom, laughing.
Örebro Racetrack is hosting V75 this Saturday and one of the trainers from the home team, Åke Lindblom starts one of his favorite horses. Over the years, Chapuy has been great for his trainer and has been the Lindblom stable's poster boy. The horse has won 21 races, finished second 14 times, and third 12 times in 95 starts. He has climbed from zero to the Gold Division where he has won every year, the last few years. At age ten, the catapult starter is still going strong and he now returns after a three-month hiatus.
"6 Chapuy (V75-3) means a lot to us. We bought him as a yearling at a sale and he's been with us ever since. He's like an inventory in our stable. He's such a nice and sweet horse in every way. We plan to race him in the Gold Division over the winter, as long as everything goes well and he thinks it's fun," says Åke Lindblom.
"Good enough in Gold in the winter"
Chapuy has not raced since July 3 when he started at Lindesberg, in a race won by Francesco Zet. Lindblom has slightly changed the training routine, hoping for a reawakening for his old horse.
"There hasn't been anything wrong with him, we just decided to let him take it slow over the summer. He raced in a tough race at Solvalla during the Elitlopp weekend, where he trotted 1:09 to finish fifth. He then ran into Francesco Zet at Lindesberg. We just gave him a rest over the summer, when all the best trotters are racing, and aimed at the fall and winter instead. When he's in top form, he is good enough in Gold, at least in the winter," says Åke.
"He trains on the track and the straight track, as well as under saddle. We have also trained him in the Pullert cart, which is new to him. It's a big heavy cart that the horses pull to get stronger. You don't have to go very fast; they get their heart rate up anyway".
I started using the Pullert cart a few years ago, but I couldn't use it on Chapuy, he was too scared since it rattles and makes some noises. But now he has gotten used to it. It feels like he works the right way in it, but it's hard to say if he will get even better. It will be interesting to see what it does for an old horse like him," says Lindblom.
"Feels great — very good in the lead"
Chapuy returns in the Gold Division this Saturday, where he starts from post six behind the gate over the short distance.
"He still leaves really fast and of course, I have some hopes now that it's his home track and the short distance. Should he get to the lead, he is usually very well. He should be a contender, but I don't want to just go out and say that he wins, since he's been away from racing for three months and might need a start or two".
"He has trained very well and feels fantastic, which he always does, actually. Besides all the heavy training , he has trained several times at the farm track, the fastest heat was in 1:20 on a track that is deep and pretty slow. I would say it equals around 1:14 at the Örebro racetrack. No changes, he will race the same way he always does".
"Flew to victory last time out — wicked fast"
The Örebro licensed trainer, with 37 horses in training, has two more V75 starters on Saturday, both in the final leg where Apasso and Västerbo Exciting start from post positions six and eight, respectively. Both horses come off a win in their most recent starts.
"6 Apasso (V75-7) is in good form and has raced well for quite some time now. He has raced against tough horses and at Solvalla he trotted 1:12 without getting a check. His last start was a cheaper race at Örebro, which he won easily. He leaves fast, but I don’t think the driver will leave with him this time. If you leave too hard with him, you have to pay the prize later. No changes".
"8 Västerbo Exciting (V75-7) is in great shape and raced in a handicap last time out, which he won pretty easily. He was last at the top of the stretch but flew down the stretch and he is wicked fast. He was supposed to race in the Bronze Division at Solvalla last Saturday but didn't get in there, so he races here instead. Mostly because it's at home and 2,600 meters. He is new in the Silver Division and has raced in tough stake races his entire career and it will be interesting to see how he does in this class. No changes".
"8 Västerbo Exciting (V75-7) is in great shape and raced in a handicap last time out, which he won pretty easily. He was last at the top of the stretch but flew down the stretch and he is wicked fast. He was supposed to race in the Bronze Division at Solvalla last Saturday but didn't get in there, so he races here instead. Mostly because it's at home and 2,600 meters. He is new in the Silver Division and has raced in tough stake races his entire career and it will be interesting to see how he does in this class. No changes".