V75®: Persson with a hometown pair in good form
V75® in Kalmar – one of the weekend's many highlights.
Hometown trainer Fredrik Persson is one of the trainers hoping for a midsummer bouquet on Sunday. He has two very interesting starters.
Friends of V75® have to wait until Sunday during the midsummer weekend, but it also is something worth waiting for. When Kalmar arranges their traditional V75 day on midsummer Sunday, the hometown trainer Fredrik Persson has his horses ready.
"It's a highlight for us. It's our biggest race day of the year and now some spectators are allowed back in and that's nice of course" says Persson.
Kalmarsundsstayern (V75-2) is raced over the hefty distance of 3,140 meters and a horse who has shown that he is not afraid of the long distance is 12 Hurricane Silas. The gelding has three impressive wins in a row, all in long-distance races.
In his last start at Vaggeryd he was chasing the leader Maestro Crown during the last kilometer but beat him fairly easily at the end.
"I think it looks very good for him. He trained intervals this morning (Monday) and everything looks great with him. He had a lot of lengths to make up in his last start, but once he grabs ahold of the bit he is very tough to beat".
Good chance to make it four in a row
Since his last win, Fredrik Persson has aimed for the long-distance race at his home track with Hurricane Silas and he thinks the chances of him making it four in a row are good.
"From his post position he can go out in the two path whenever he wants so that doesn't worry me at all. I think he has a very good chance to win".
Persson also has 4 Newlight Coger in the same race, with himself driving.
"Hurricane Silas is a very easy horse to drive so Per Lennartsson will drive him. Newlight Coger is a bit trickier so I will take him myself since I know him better. Newlight Coger is in good form but it looks tough for him. He will get a ground-saving trip and hopefully he can get a check".
Ultra Bright in top form
V75-3 is the mares elite, also named Viola Silas' race. She's a mare that always will have a special place in Fredrik Persson's heart.
Now 15 years old, the mare was dominant in her crop and won the Queen's Trophy, Stochampionatet and the Mares Derby as a four-year-old. She is now carrying her sixth foal.
"She is well and she’s in foal to Googoo Gaagaa. That will be very exciting" says Fredrik Persson.
So, it's not so strange that he really wants to win Viola Silas' race. The trainer has a hot win candidate in 4 Ultra Bright, who in her last start raced in the final of Diamantstoet on the Elitlopp weekend where she closed very well despite being out wide and she wasn't beaten by much by the winner.
"I was very happy with her then, indeed. I think that's about the best I have ever felt her. The way I see it here, Mellby Free and Hevin Boko are the toughest opponents. I think those three mares are above the rest in here. The dream scenario would be if she could get to the lead and go slow for a bit and then just sprint away. We will try for the lead and she should have a good chance if she gets there, but Ultra Bright races well from any position”.
Sounds like two strong win candidates from your stable on Sunday. Who would you say has the best chance to win?
"I think it's pretty even between the two of them, maybe a slight advantage for Ultra Bright. Like I said, I think she feels very good now".