V75® (New Year's Eve/multi jackpot): A Ferrari in the biggest race of the winter season
Conrad Lugauer has aimed for this race for over two months.
On New Year's Eve, it is go time for Ferrari Sisu in the long-distance race Sylvesterloppet at Axevalla with almost SEK 600,000 to the winner.
"He is in perfect form for this race" says the Jägersro trainer.
On New Year's Eve, the year comes to an end with a multi-jackpot V75® card at Axevalla. It is the final of V75 Winter Burst with SEK 40 million already guaranteed to a possible sole winner (could be more if there are further jackpots leading up to Saturday).
V75 starts earlier on New Year's Eve and post time for the first leg is 15:00.
The finale (V75-7) is the biggest race of the winter season in Sweden. Sylvesterloppet has a first prize of almost SEK 600,000 this year.
That's an amount that the Jägersro trainer Conrad Lugauer would love to get his hands on with the favorite 14 Ferrari Sisu.
The seven-year-old comes in top form, according to his trainer. He has taken two straight wins during November and December after having closed extremely fast both times.
"He has great speed and he is both strong and fast" says Lugauer, who means that Ferrari Sisu is pretty much in top form.
Had to go to Sundsvall to get starting points
His last start was in the gold division at Bergsåker on December 3.
Conrad Lugauer made the almost 1,000 kilometer long trip to Sundsvall and went home as Mr 100 percent.
Laradja Vrijthout was outstanding in the silver division after having taken the lead early. In the gold division, Ferrari Sisu started from post position eight behind the gate.
The tempo was low and Lugauer stayed at the pylons with Ferrari Sisu, who found a way out and closed rapidly.
Conrad made the long trip from Blentarp to Sundsvall to get more starting points for his horse.
"How long have I aimed at Sylvesterloppet? Well, over two months" says the trainer on the phone from Austria at the beginning of the week.
A little skiing trip before the races on New Year's Eve.
Ferrari Sisu starts at the back of the field in the 2,640 meter long handicap, where he together with three other horses starts with a 40-meter handicap.
15 horses start in Sylvesterloppet.
"Ferrari is in very good shape now and I think he is one of the horses who can win this race. The form is good but we need some luck, as you always do. In this race at Axevalla, more so than usual. But if we just get into the race, he can do some work himself, and then I think we should have a good chance to win" says Lugauer.
"This will be fun. We had to scratch him due to the track condition recently. He got two training days after that which would make up for the race he missed. He felt good and is in perfect form going into this race".
Lugauer brings two more horses to Axevalla. 6 Breidabliks Bombay (V75-4) is a quick starter who drew a good post in the race for four-year-olds.
"Last time the track was not good for him and he didn't race so well. But it wasn't the horse's fault. I don't know the other horses but i have a horse who I think will make good money going forward" he says.
First prize an all-time high
Axevalla's racing manager Lars Ågren came up with the idea of Sylvesterloppet and named the race because December 31 is the name day of Sylvester.
In both 2020 and 2021, the race was placed as the very last race of the card, and the same thing this year. The guaranteed first prize is SEK 500,000 and during the year, purse money that for some reason doesn't get distributed due to scratches, short fields etcetera is being added to the purse.
"Sylvesterloppet has SEK 593,328 to the winner this year, to be exact. It's a new all-time high for the race. We are very pleased with our featured race and with the entire race card. Sylvesterloppet came out just as open as we want it. It's written to be a race with good horses on all the different distances" says Lars Ågren.
Ferrari Sisu looks like the likely favorite, but maybe not a giant one?
"I really think it's a race that gives the bettors something to think about. Ferrari Sisu showed in his last start that he will be dangerous in this type of race. Personally, I like the hometown horse 2 Combat Fighter, a horse I have followed since he was little and that I really like. Also, we have Åke Svanstedt back home driving for the day, and he drives Combat Fighter, who is trained by his son Anders".
Established gold division horses at the back of the field and five horses on the starting distance. Plus, many well-known horses with a 20-meter handicap in this race over 2,640 meters.
"Sylvesterloppet has very good horses with a 20-meter handicap, something I am super pleased with. Katja Melko's 7 Vice Versa Diamant has won ten races this year, for instance. Then we have Steen Juul who ships in with a very good horse from Denmark, 8 Gasolin" says Lars Ågren.
New Year's Eve is established as a day for the spectators at Axevalla. Besides a three-course menu in the restaurant, bars, and some light food in the grandstand, there will also be some entertainment and a small fair and there are also free shuttle buses from the nearby towns.
"The thought is that this will be the best possible pre-party before your own New Year's party" says Lars Ågren.
Footnote: Post time for the first V75 leg on New Year's Eve is 15:00.