V75® (Sunday): The Brenne stable in top form
Jens Kristian Brenne has his stable in top form.
On Sunday when V75® goes to Norway, he hopes to win Jarlsberg Grand Prix.
"N.Y. Moet was terrific in her last start and I have to believe we have a good chance to win" says the trainer.
Jarlsberg Racetrack is located just outside the town of Tønsberg, which is around 100 kilometers south of Oslo. This weekend they are racing both Saturday and Sunday and on Sunday, the focus is on V75. The Jarlsberg Ractrack has a great race card with the Ulf Thoresen Grand Prix as their finale.
The 39-year-old Jens Kristian Brenne is too young to have seen Ulf Thoresen drive, but he has heard a lot about him.
"Oh, yes he's a legend. I have been told many stories about him, both from on and off the track. Also, when I talk to drivers from other countries I realize what a terrific driver he was, nobody really knows what he had, that nobody else had but in some way, he was able to communicate with the horses like nobody else could. Unfortunately, he was way too young when he passed away" says Jens Kristian Brenne.
He is stabled at Momarken Racetrack in Mysen, located between Oslo and the Swedish border.
His stable has done very well for quite some time now and has won several V75 races in Norway.
"We had a good year last year, and this year we have taken another step forward. My horses have stayed healthy and I have gotten better stock to work with".
The star of the stable is Garth Vader who just a few weeks ago won Nils Arne Eggens Æresløp and was awarded a spot in Åby Stora Pris, but the connections declined.
"He's a young horse and we want to race him for a long time. He has never competed against such tough horses as there will be in that race and it doesn't feel right by the horse. I will race him in Norway, there are nice races for him here, and I hope we can go next year instead".
Full speed ahead
On Sunday, he makes the trip to Jarlsberg and V75. In the Jarlsberg Grand Prix for mares, he has a lot of faith in 1 N.Y. Moet (V75-4), who was very impressive when she won her elimination from the lead in 1:10.5/1,609 meters.
"Yes, she was very good. It was full speed down the backside when Bunny came charging and it was a strong effort by N.Y. Moet to win that easily".
How did she come out of the race?
"She came out of it well, she has just trained nice and slow and everything has been good".
Now she is racing back only two weeks later, how will she handle that?
"You never know. N.Y. Moet is a mare who is mentally strong and I don't think that will bother her, hopefully she will even be a little bit better this time".
Is the plan to race her in the lead again?
"That's the plan yes, it will be full speed ahead out of the gate. A couple of the opponents are very quick out of the gate and I'm not sure N.Y. Moet is quick enough to hold them out, it feels a bit uncertain".
If she can't get to the lead, does that mean that her chances to win are gone?
"Absolutely not, she is very efficient with a covered up trip, but it's a bit more chancy".
You also have 7 Brenne Røn (V75-2), is he anything for the bettors?
"He's a very nice horse who has made quite a bit of money in a short time and this is his first start against the elite. It's a tough task and I don't think he is ready to win just yet. I hope he gets a good trip and finishes the race in a good way. For him to progress, it's important to race in this type of races, but that he would win feels like a longshot".