V75®: Perfect conditions for Madsen's hope
Then: Injured and a potential broodmare.
Now: A winning candidate on V75®.
"I have to admit that it looks very good on paper for Zola Love" says trainer Thomas Madsen.
Thomas Madsen has jump-started this year. The stable has already won on V75 and is just shy of SEK 250,000 in earnings already.
"Yes, we are off to a great start even if it was a bit disappointing last Saturday when both Attention Please and Call Me Brodda crossed the wire completely unused. They would have made good money with some luck, but that's horse racing" says Thomas Madsen.
It was a completely different story last year when not much worked out for the Kalmar licensed trainer.
"No, it was tough. I had some infection in the stable from November of the year before and it kept bothering us until June. My horses had no power and it was very frustrating. I looked into everything without finding any answers. I change the feed a bit, but I don't know if that's the reason, but I feel that we are on the right path now".
Would like to see her in the lead
On Saturday, V75 will be raced at Åby with the prestigious drivers challenge STL Champions, plus the annual awards ceremony where Horse Of The Year and the winners of the other categories will be crowned. Thomas Madsen comes with three horses to Åby.
"I have a lot of hopes for 6 Zola Love (V75-6). She was very good in her first start for me and the conditions look very good for her on paper.".
What is the story with her?
"She had problems with a tendon and she was sold injured as a potential broodmare. She had a long rest and it has healed well. After four, or five months she started training back and I have gradually increased her training dose. I have trained her twice at the racetrack in 1:21/2,100 meters before her last start and I felt comfortable with that".
How pleased were you with her?
"I thought she would be good, but I have to say that she was even better than I had thought. She hadn't raced in a long time and it was hard to know how her form was. She ended up winning very easily and she even had the earplugs left in her ears".
How did she come out of the race?
"She came out of it well, everything feels good even if she has just jogged since that last start. She will train this week and everything looks good".
How do you like her chances to win?
"Had I gotten the chance to pick a post, I would have picked six. Erik Adilesson should be top three in Sweden in volt start and I would like to see Zola Love in the lead. She should improve a lot with that last start in her legs and I have to be optimistic".
Not her cup of tea
You also have 5 Attention Please in the same race. What is her status?
"She was locked in and never got the chance last Saturday and had she gotten out, she might have finished second behind Heroine Darling. Attention Please didn't have much trot in her two previous starts and we decided to treat her up before her last start. It felt like she was back to her old self again and Kim was happy with her. She is racing back to back weeks now, but since she wasn't tired last Saturday she will race again and I hope she could finish third or fourth".
Your good mare 13 Call Me Brodda starts in V75-7, how high are your hopes for her this time?
"She starts with a 20-meter handicap and that's not really her cup of tea. She is in top form now and crossed the wire without being tired last Saturday. There aren't that many races for her in February so we chose to race her back again this week. Örjan is a master when it comes to giving one a trip and that's exactly what he needs to do for her to have a chance in here. I think winning might be tough, it usually is at Åby when you start from way back there“.