V75®: Starting over with Lozano di Quattro
He could have been one of the horses in Elitloppet.
But after a not-so-good effort in his most recent start, Lozano di Quattro had to visit the veterinarian.
On Saturday, the lightning-fast gelding returns when V75 makes a stop at his home track Mantorp.
Elitloppet is over for this year.
The crowd at Solvalla witnessed a memorable edition where the phenomenal French trotter Horsy Dream was crowned king after winning and setting a new stakes record.
Per K Eriksson had to watch it as a spectator.
His 8 Lozano di Quattro (V75-7) was a hot candidate for one of the sought-after pink tickets, for the longest time. But after a perfect start to the season with three straight wins, things did not work out for him in his most recent start at Mantorp at the beginning of May. Lozano di Quattro got rough-gaited in the last turn and had to settle for third, as the huge favorite.
"He didn't steer well in his last two starts before the most recent one, at Solvalla and Åby, nothing you could see from the side but you felt it when you sat behind him. At Mantorp, last time out, he was just in a miserable mood and lost the bounce to his stride in the race, he was simply a bit sore," says trainer and owner Per K Eriksson, and adds:
"We went over him after that start and there was nothing major on him, he was just generally sore, but we injected his knees, hocks, and an ankle. Those three starts caught up to him and he had never been treated before, so he needed it".
In hindsight, it was alright that he missed Elitloppet?
"Well, I'm ecstatic. I don't think I've ever been so happy missing a race, as I was yesterday. Of course, you want to beat your chest that we weren't in it now, but he is not tough enough to race there, the way the race turned out, he might be in the future, but he's not now".
The bettors should not single him
Eriksson starts over again.
There was not a very long hiatus for the trainer's star trotter. When the home track Mantorp arranges the first V75 card of the summer, Lozano di Quattro shows up in the program.
"He got some rest during the treatment but he will train at the track Tuesday or Wednesday this week. Not very fast, but he does something every day; he's in the pressure cart, or walks, so he gets his workouts in".
After being a potential Elitlopp starter, the 6-year-old is still in the Silver division.
"Yes, we will lay low now, especially considering his last start and the post position here, we don't want to put any pressure on the horse or the driver for this start. The bettors should not leave him single on their tickets, and keep his last start in mind. If the horse runs off as he has done earlier, I won't be surprised, but as I said, the bettors should be cautious," Per says and adds:
"He is also not that quick in the start and I don't think the driver will be leaving with him".
He raced in an American sulky in his first three starts this year, but now he is entered with a regular style sulky.
"Yes, we are starting over with him again, now he will have two gaiting poles on the sulky too. In case he starts going sideways, like in his last start".
But you have a good feeling going into the Saturday start?
"I always have a good feeling when I race this horse".
Any thoughts on his plans after this start?
"There are plenty of nice races ahead of us, and we dream to race him in one of them. But we don't have any set plans, we want to make this start first, then we have a reason to keep in touch after that," says Per K Eriksson.