V75® (Saturday): Schön makes the trip to Oslo with an interesting duo
A disappointing break in a good position in the Gold division, last time out.
Iznogoud Am makes the trip to Oslo in his chase for revenge.
The Solvalla licensed trainer Marcus Schön is one of the Swedish trainers visiting Bjerke this Saturday when V75® goes to Norway.
Swedish and Norwegian trainers meet up to battle this Saturday when Bjerkebanen in Oslo hosts a joint V75®.
One of the Swedish trainers making the trip out west is Marcus Schön.
The Solvalla trainer starts the very talented 7 Iznogoud Am (V75-3) in this week's Gold division.
The 6-year-old has made three starts this fall after a longer layoff. He won at Rättvik, two starts ago after a remarkable finish. In his most recent start, Iznogoud Am raced in the Gold division at Örebro. He got a pocket trip but made a break halfway down the stretch.
"I think there was simply too much going on at the same time. Björn Goop was happy with how he felt and we haven't found anything wrong with the horse after the race so, I think there was simply too much going on at the same time for him," Marcus explains.
It looked like he had more left in his tank at that point.
"He should have. He's also not very explosive in just a few strides so I like to believe he had some left at that point".
Could be France this winter
Iznogoud Am was previously trained by Stefan P Pettersson from Mantorp where he was very successful.
The gelding finished second in the Sprint Championship and the Grand Prix de l'UET as a 4-year-old. After a not-so-successful 5-year-old campaign, the son of Muscle Hill joined the Marcus Schön stable, where he now has a few starts in his legs. Despite making a break in his last start, the trainer thinks the horse is getting better with each start.
"I would say so, his last start was a hiccup and it would have felt better going into this start without that break. But the horse feels great in training after that start and I have no complaints, his form should be even better with that start".
He drew post position seven behind the gate this time. Maybe not what you hoped for?
"No that's a real bummer, honestly. We would have liked to see post one to five, but it is what it is. It will be tougher from out there, of course. The goal is for him to get a flat line, but the horse is good enough to be in the mix, regardless of the trip. First up might be too tough in the Gold division, though, but with a better trip and some over pace he could be right there".
What are the plans after this start for Iznogouad Am?
"We will see how he feels after this start, but we will probably race him a few more times and there are also some nice races for him in France. That could be an alternative, but we will see which road we choose with him".
A season of bad luck — but feels good
The Schön stable brings one more starter to Bjerke on Saturday.
The well-bred 8 Kayleigh (V75-1), a younger sister to Joviality, started her racing career for Marcus Melander in the United States and made almost SEK 3 million as a 2- and 3-year-old there. This season as a 4-year-old has not been what the connections hoped for.
"No, definitely not. She had some issues in the spring and into the summer and has had bad luck with pretty much everything so, it's been a crappy year for her, if I may say so. But she feels good now so, we will see in this start where she's at".
What are your thoughts on her last start at Jägersro?
"There was a very fast finish in that race and we knew beforehand that she wasn't in top form and she lacked a bit of speed in her legs and well, she did. But I believe that she will be improved off of that start and that she could step up a bit".
What is your feeling going into the Saturday start?
"She also drew poorly, just like Iznogoud Am and it feels ice cold. How she gets away will decide the result for her. She is good, but I have to lay low since she needs lots of luck from this post position," says Marcus Schön, who also informs us that Kayleigh will go from a blind bridle to a can't-see-back bridle for this start.