V75®: (Maundy Thursday): Månlykke A.M. kicks off Spring Race
On Thursday, Spring Race kicks off with V75® for four consecutive days.
Many of the country's best horses are making their seasonal debuts, one of them is Månlykke A.M.
"He feels great and I think we have a good chance to win" says Gunnar Melander.
Spring is right around the corner even if many of us are still waiting for warmer weather. A sign thereof is Easter with all it has to offer. Many associates Easter with great trot races for several days. This year is no exception. Spring race with V75® starts at Gävle on Maundy Thursday and culminates at Solvalla on Easter Sunday with a multi jackpot.
In Gävle many eyes will be on Gunnar Melander and Månlykke A.M. who makes his first start of the year as the giant betting favorite in V75-3.
"My plan was to start racing him sooner, but I didn't find any fitting race for him so we took aim at this race in Gävle" says Gunnar Melander.
The Bollnäs licensed trainer is known for his finesse and Månlykke A.M. is always well prepared when he races and Gunnar is on top of every little detail.
"I have done this for so long and I know you have to do your job thoroughly. Månlykke A.M. was sick in his most recent start and he didn't show any signs of that before the race. They are live animals so you have to be very thorough with everything. Luckily, he doesn't seem to have suffered from it and was back training after a couple of weeks.
"He feels fantastic"
Månlykke A.M. has won his seasonal debuts in both 2021 and 2022 and he is just as well prepared this year.
"He feels fantastic and at least as good as previous seasonal debuts. He has trained as usual and is well prepared. I usually train a heat at the racetrack ten days before the first start back and I did so this year too. I trained him in 1.28/2,100 meters with a quicker finish and Månlykke A.M. felt fantastic".
Any worries at all?
"The post position. He can leave but he could get locked in from the inside post. There are many good drivers around me that are pretty clever and they wouldn't mind us getting into traffic trouble. I have to focus on getting out as soon as possible and hope for some racing luck".
You will be pretty big betting favorites, is that understandable for you?
"Yes, my horse has shown what he can do and he's a true winner. I think we have a good chance to win if we don't get into too much traffic trouble".
What does the schedule look like going forward?
"First we will make this start, but of course, we have a schedule that we hope to stick to. It doesn't differ much from last year's calendar if everything goes as we hope".
Does that mean that Elitkampen is part of that schedule?
"Yes, we hope to race him there again this year. It's a race I would love to win and as long as the horse is ready, we will race there".
Finally, Månlykke A.M. has a three-year-old son that you train. Any similarities?
"Absolutely, he's a very nice horse who is mentally very nice just like his father. I take it easy with the young horses and I can't compete with Jan-Olov Persson or Öystein Tjomsland when it comes to racing three-year-olds. I hope we can match them next year instead".