V75®: The Kolgjinis are going for the win at Åby
The Kolgjini's Barack face is not just in the race to learn in Saturday's Åby World Grand Prix.
The 5-year-old is ready to take on the best trotters in the world in the SEK 6 million race over three kilometers.
"We know what a great horse he is and we are going for the win. It's a race with fantastic horses but he is in good form and we will pull his shoes for the first time in his career", says Dante Kolgjini.
After Barack face showed his muscles in the Grand Prix de l'UET last year, the Jägersro licensed trainer Adrian Kolgjini started talking about how he could have one of the best trotters in the world in his stable.
The Kolgjini family decided early to aim for the Åby World Grand Prix. An amazing SEK 6 million to the winner was a part of that decision, but even more important for the horse's future breeding career is to be in the race and perhaps win it.
The couple Lutfi Kolgjini and Anna Svensson are the breeders and part owners of the horse that won the Grand Prix de l'UET last year after showcasing his strength and he kick-started 2024 by winning the Copenhagen Cup, in his seasonal debut in May.
After that, things have not gone quite as well in three starts. In Oslo Grand Prix, Barack Face came up sick. In Ulf Thoresen Grand International, the horse showed better form, before he made a break in Hugo Åbergs Memorial last week at Jägersro.
The goal to show off over the short distance at home at Jägersro ended with the horse making a break early in the race.
"What I saw of him after the break in Åbergs...I don't think I have seen him look better. He interfered with himself, but when he strode out, he looked fantastic. I think his form is where we hoped it would be this particular week", says Dante Kolgjini.
Believes in a significant impact
The fact that the horse got doubled up and interfered with himself was a big part of the news for the Saturday race. In his 23rd lifetime start, Barack Face will race without shoes.
"Him interfering with himself suggests that he is ready to go with less weight. We will pull all his shoes for the first time in his career. We have waited and I believe it will have a significant impact on him. Once we pull the shoes on our best horses, it usually does a lot for them and I hope it will on Saturday too", says Dante.
Next week, the big 5-year-old race formally named Jubileumspokalen, Margareta Wallenius Klebergs Pokal will be raced at Solvalla.
Barack Face would have been one of the favorites in that race. But the connections made the choice early to go for the Åby World Grand Prix. To square off with the older elite over 3,140 meters.
"We will only get one chance in this race with this horse. Of course, he would have had a great chance to win the Margareta-race, but we would rather win a race like this. There's a lot of prestige in winning Åby World Grand Prix that is only raced every four years".
He won the Copenhagen Cup in May, but how do you think he measures up with the older elite?
"He's there, he's there! He has had lots of bad luck this year. Don't forget that he was the betting favorite in Oslo Grand Prix. That's how much talent he has. I think we have a horse good enough to compete at Åby. If we just wanted to him to race and learn, we would have raced in Margareta Wallenius Klebergs Pokal", says Dante Kolgjini.
1 Francesco Zet and 2 San Moteur are among the most mentioned horses in the Saturday race (V75-7) from good post positions. The French Elitlopp winner 7 Horsy Dream is the likely betting favorite. What should Adrian be aware of?
"Our horse should be able to leave even faster now that he is barefoot. So, I think Adrian will be ready when the gates fold. It's a 3,000-meter race, but he can do a lot of the hard work himself. Adrian usually finds the right trips in these races and I hope he will on Saturday too".
The family horse Barack Face could be the answer at Åby?
"He is in against fantastic horses, but he is great himself too. We are going for the win, but if he can finish top three, we will be incredibly happy too. We have a horse who can do it. People have started to doubt him but we know what a great horse he is. Short distance, or long. He is both fast and strong and the distance doesn't worry us. Barack Face has a fantastic attitude out there", says Dante Kolgjini.
Startlist
Åby World Grand Prix (V75-7)
3,140 meters behind the gate
1. Francesco Zet – Örjan Kihlström
2. San Moteur – Björn Goop
3. Oracle Tile – Magnus A Djuse
4. High on Pepper – Jorma Kontio
5. Gamin Jaba – Daniel Redén
6. Barack Face – Adrian Kolgjini
7. Horsy Dream – Eric Raffin
8. Hades de Vandel – Erik Adielsson
9. Get A Wish – Johan Untersteiner
10. Banderas Bi – Alessandro Gocciadoro
First prize: SEK 6 million