V75®: Nordström has two strong candidates in the Uppfödningslöpning
Say Svensk Uppfödningslöpning and you know Per Nordström is all ears.
The Jägersro licensed trainer has been successful in Sweden's biggest race for 2-year-olds throughout the years and this year he has two chances to win.
"They both feel good and I think they will be improved after the eliminations".
The 2-year-old talents are in the spotlight when V75® comes to Jägersro this Saturday.
Svensk Uppfödningslöpning has the longest tradition of all the Swedish stake races and is the most prestigious race a 2-year-old can win. The first prize is SEK 1.6 million, and since all the participants are enrolled in 'premiechansen', the purse money doubles.
A trainer who has made it a bit of his specialty to have success with 2-year-olds is Per Nordström. Since 2012, he has won the race three times; with Denim Boko (2012), Revelation (2019), and Islay Mist Sisu (2020).
This year, the Jägersro licensed trained has two starters in the final. They ran into each other in the elimination, where 4 Monster Wine (V75-4) beat his stable mate 9 Västerbo Gute (V75-4) down the stretch.
Nordström is looking to keep up his brilliant record in the Uppfödningslöpning.
"Yes, we hope so. We have two nice horses who both came up with their best effort so far in their careers, and that was the fastest elimination. I don't see any clouds in the sky for them after that start, both feel good and I think they should be improved off of that start" says Per.
Skipped Svampen - aimed for this
Let's start with Monster Wine.
The Googoo Gaagaa gelding started his career by finishing second three times in a row and two starts ago he finished second in the Breeders Course final. In the next start, he won.
"Monster Wine raced well already when he was second in the Breeders Course final. Then we skipped Svampen, I didn't want to race him against the best ones again, so we have aimed for this race at our home track. He got a period of training in between and his last start should improve his form a bit since we haven't trained him that hard yet".
What type of horse is he?
"He had only dropped one of his testicles, the other one was still up in his groin area, so we had to castrate him early, and when they are made geldings that early, they tend to be very kind and well-mannered, which he also is. I think he has done everything right so far, ran into good horses right off the bat and now he seems to be very good".
He drew post position four in the final, and Gustav Johansson gets the drive again. What type of trip would you like to see him get in the final?
"Unfortunately, you can't order the trip you want. But it will be up to Gustav and how the horse feels when the gates open. I think the horse is quicker than average out of the gate, but he's not lightning fast".
Opened up his lungs in the elimination
The second starter from the Per Nordström stable is Västerbo Gute.
The colt started his career by winning his first two starts before losing to his stablemate Monster Wine in his last start.
"They both got good trips in that elimination, but I think a bit of the reason as to why he lost was because it was his first start behind the gate and he trotted 1:10.5 the first 500 meters and 1:12.5 the first kilometer and he got a bit tired at the end. But now we've tried that, we opened up his lungs and he seems to have come out of it the right way, I have nothing negative to report".
Västerbo Gute has an interesting pedigree. His sire is the French stallion Gotland, we haven't seen many of his offsprings here in Sweden?
"Yes, he is from Gotland's first crop. He's a son of Ready Cash who was very talented and also a little more on the mellow side, he could leave fast and he always trotted. I think Västerbo Gute seems to have the same qualities".
He drew post nine, in the second tier here in the final. What are your thoughts on that?
"I think I would like to follow the 2 (Oriana Boko eds note), and that should give us a nice trip and we have to hope that they set a high pace upfront. When I got to pick my post, I had seven and nine to choose from and I think I would have to use him too hard from post seven, so this will work out better. He has always trained well behind horses".
Your horses had the two fastest times in the eliminations. What do you think they are ready for on Saturday?
"I think can cut a few tenths off of those times. Maybe down towards 1:13 flat if the conditions are right and maybe even under that".
Finally, do you feel that one is hotter than the other going into the final?
"No, I can't say that I do. I am, as I said, very pleased with both and I think whoever has the best day and gets the best trip, will finish first" says Per Nordström.