V75: The Norwegian top trotter in pole position - "Good chance to win"
The last time Best Ofdream Trio was in Rättvik, he won impressively, three starts ago.
He maintained his form last time out, at home in Norway, by sprinting to an easy win in 1:10.9.
The Norwegian top trotter drew the pole position for the Saturday start in the Gold division - and the question is if he can hold out the catapult starter Click Bait.
"We race him with shoes for this start, which makes the horse both safer and quicker in the start. The way I see it, three horses can win this race. Mine drew best out of these three" says trainer Erik Killingmo.
Rättvik is the host for V75 this Saturday where Ego Boys Minne, the Gold division, is the highlight of the card. The Norwegian top trotter 1 Best Ofdream Trio (V75-3) returns to Dalarna, after his impressive performance there, a little over a month ago.
"He was very good that time when he set a fast pace in the lead and still could win over 2,140 meters" says Erik Killingo.
In the following start, Best Ofdream Trio set a furious pace in the lead in Ulf Thoresens Minneslöp in Jarlsberg. He trotted the first kilometer in 1:09 and that was too much for the horse, who got tired and was beaten early.
"It was just like in Elitloppet, he was all out early. The pace was too high for him, but he was also not at his best that day. He wasn't in Elitloppet either, but he feels much better now" says Erik Killingmo, who trains 25 horses at Bjerke, in Oslo.
"Was rough gaited in the first turn - safer with shoes now"
In his last start back home in Norway, at Sörlandet Travpark, Best Ofdream Trio returned to the winners' circle. He left fast as he usually does, but took a bad step in the first turn and could not get to the lead. Instead, he got a perfect second over trip, and when Kim Eriksson tipped him out in the last turn, Best Ofdream Trio closed very well and was able to sprint to victory.
"His gait was not perfect in the first turn and Kim could not go full speed with him there. They were going really fast into the turn and Kim felt early that he woudln't get to the lead. So instead, he took a seat and got a good trip, and was able to win pretty easily, by two lengths".
"The horse raced barefoot behind and he can get a little bit steppy like that. It might make him faster overall but he is safer with shoes and that also makes him able to leave faster. He just needs that grip behind" says Killingmo.
"We are going for the lead - I'm optimistic"
On Saturday, Best Ofdream Trio starts from the inside post position in Ego Boys Minne and the tactic should be given for Kim Eriksson over the short distance.
"We will be leaving a bit for the lead and then we will see what happens. The tactic is up to Kim, but we have to try to leave when we drew this well. The only one who might be able to get passed us is Click Bait and he has post four, which might be better than post one".
"I think that the field Saturday is a bit easier compared to the races he's been in lately. The way I see it, three horses can win this race. Click Bait and Mister Hercules are the other two, besides my own, but we have the best post position. I don't think the other horses in the field are good enough to win".
"I have to be optimistic and believe that we have a good chance to win. No changes other than the shoes, and he will race in a regular style sulky and with blinkers as earlier" says Erik Killingmo, who has another starter on V75, but he lays low with that horse.
"8 Park View (V75-7) drew a bad post and he can't win from out there. We will race for a check".