V75®: Svensson returning with two chances
He shook loose late, last Saturday. That's It is back racing in V75® again.
"He's never been in better form," says trainer Claes Svensson, who also puts out a warning for the stable mate.
Mantorp is hosting the V75® races this Saturday.
A track that Claes Svensson knows very well. He was previously a trainer there, but for the last ten years, he has had his license at Vaggeryd.
This weekend, Svensson returns to his old home track with two starters. 1 That's It (V75-1) just raced in V75, as recently as last Saturday when he finished second in the Bronze division after having gotten out late from the pocket.
"Yes, he raced last Saturday and wasn't tired. He was very good, and the conditions of the race were also very fitting for him, but overall, I was very pleased with his effort," says Claes.
Was there a lot left in him that day?
"Enough, anyway. I gave him a nice trip, but he had the earplugs left in his ears, he got out way too late and couldn't switch gears that fast, but he closed well, and had he gotten out earlier, we might have been able to win the race".
If you study the program carefully, you will see which distance That's It prefers.
His last five starts have been at distances of 2,640 meters or longer. This Saturday, the race is 2,140 meters.
"Yes, 2,640 meters with volt start is his favorite, I believe. Now, it's a 2,140-meter race behind the gate, which has been trickier for him since he is not fast enough behind the gate to get a good position, he often gets into traffic trouble. But besides him not being used much in his last start and the fact that he feels good, the conditions of this race are also a reason why we want to try here. The finals are coming up two weeks later and they are also over 2,140 meters behind the gate so if he races well now at Mantorp, then he has tried those conditions".
So with that in mind, is the inside post good or bad for him?
"I would say it's good. He will sit at the pylons, where he should be in this race. I will leave to get as good of a position as possible, he obviously has no chance of holding up the lead, but hopefully, we can sit third at the pylons".
He is entered with an American sulky. An exciting change?
"It will be the very first time for him, so we don't know what that will do for his ability to leave, but he has made over 50 starts without the American sulky, so of course, it is a bit exciting. What it does for the horse, is up to the bettors to decide," says Claes and adds:
"He has never been in better form. He felt great last Saturday, but this distance might be a bit too short for him and the starting method isn't his best".
"Good enough for this class"
Later in the afternoon, Svensson's second V75 starter comes out.
5 Smiley Brodda (V75-6) starts in a leg of Diamantstoet. The 5-year-old mare returned to the Svensson stable last summer and closed out last season brilliantly. After a two-month-long layoff, she closed well in her seasonal debut, last time out.
"Yes, and she needed that start. Just as I said before that start, she wasn't quite ready to win yet, but we raced her there instead of training her at the track and it paid off. She got a nice trip, as planned, I was happy with her effort and I hope and think that she will be quicker for this start. She always races well and I think she is good enough for this class, especially since she's just racing against mares this time," says the trainer who also says that the plan is to race her barefoot behind".
"I plan to try that and it should make her better. She raced barefoot all around in her first start for me, but she got a bit too pacey and made a break into the first turn, she needs some weight up front. We will also try a pull-down bridle on her instead of the blind bridle she has raced with, she has shown signs of not trying that hard at the end and hopefully that will help her".
So, Smiley Brodda can be a longshot to watch out for on Saturday?
"I think, based on just ability alone, she should be able to battle for the win here. The question is if the form is good enough yet, or if she needs one more start and some speed in her legs".
"The King" is coming – seasonal debut this Wednesday
We take the opportunity to ask Claes Svensson about King Of Everything.
The big poster boy of the Svensson stable has not raced since early December, but he is making his seasonal debut on Wednesday this week. King of Everything is entered to a race before the V86 races, at Solvalla.
"He showed great form last year and won four V75 races. He has been given a lot of heavy training this past winter, I have been happy with the training I have been able to give him and I trained him at the track last Tuesday. It felt like he is not in the right form yet and that he is still missing some speed in his legs, so I didn't plan on racing him already, but then I saw this race and it might sound silly to say that it looked cheap since there are a couple of good horses in there, but he should be able to be fourth, or fifth behind them, without being in top form. I can honestly say that I don't feel that we have any chance of winning the race, we are making this start instead of training him again at the track".
But it looks interesting going into this season?
"I think so. He could quite possibly have another good season coming. We haven't planned his next start, but of course, he is a Saturday horse. Last year. he won a V75 race in his second start of the year".