V86® (double jackpot): A step on the way for the hot Flame
Hot and temperamental.
The 4-year-old mare Flamenco Girl tends to get a bit over-ambitious and has therefore not been pushed in her young career, which still has resulted in four wins in six starts.
"We have more gears saved on her," says trainer Lars I Nilsson, who informs us about a more passive tactic in the Wednesday V86 start at Jägersro.
Last week's V86 solution was easy to find and the payout for both seven and six winners picked carried over to this week's pool as a double jackpot.
What do the bettors need to think about this week, when a sole winner can take home SEK 19 million?
V86-3 is an interesting race that starts behind the gate over the middle distance, open for mares with lifetimes earnings up to SEK 200,000. The Lars I Nilsson trainee Flamenco Girl is off to a promising start to her career and she is the likely favorite.
'The Flame', as she is called, is being aimed at Margaretas Tidiga Unghästserie for 4-year-old mares at Solvalla on the first Saturday in February.
The start this Wednesday is a step on the way.
"We have taken it pretty easy on her in training and the plan is to use this start to get her in form. She feels good and she should be good enough for this type of race and she needs a good tightener," says the trainer.
Flamenco Girl's first long trip was to Solvalla on Boxing Day. The Flame won a race for fillies and mares from the lead together with driver Carl-Johan Jepson before V75 and her stablemate Here's Johnny Sox showed top form when he won the Class 1 final on V75 the same day.
A double to the Nilsson stable and two for two on the day.
"That was her first long trip and her first time sleeping over away from home and that was no problem. We have liked her since she joined our stable in February as a 2-year-old, but she has been pretty temperamental so we have given her plenty of time. Once she started racing, she has been fine in the races but she is still over-ambitious at home, in training," says Lars I Nilsson.
Building experience and toughness
Metalimo i Malmö AB (Thorbjörn Wallgren) owns the mare that is paid into most of the big stakes for 4-year-old mares this year. Lars I Nilsson is hopeful.
"We hope that she can make it to one of the bigger finals if she can handle her temper. She was race-ready two months before her racing debut in September, only because we wanted to go easy on her. Now she will race over the winter instead, to get some experience and toughness. The Flame has a nice and clean gait, a gait that shows there is room for development".
The 4-year-old mare has won first up, from behind, and twice from the lead. After a quick start at Solvalla, in her last start, she could control the pace and just held on for the Mattias Djuse trainee Nephtys Boko.
"She is quick out of the gate and Stefan (Persson) decides the tactic. She needs this start before the Margareta race and we would like to avoid a tough trip like racing her first up, to get her prepared properly for her next start. This is a mare we have high hopes for so I think she will race well. If she behaves well and gets a good trip in the lead or with cover, she can win".
You have 9 Akal Face (V86-1) in the first leg. What are your expectations of him this time?
"He raced super last time out, first up, and crushed the leader. A faster horse tripped him out and passed him down the stretch, so he's in good form. I don't know much about the opponents, but the bettors should keep an eye on him. He is due for a win soon, with some luck. No changes," says Lars I Nilsson.
Christoffer Eriksson also drives 1 Vanity Flair (V86-7) for you. How does he like starting from the inside post in this middle-distance race?
"The inside post could be a trap for him. He has not been able to leave very fast earlier. Two starts ago, the driver did not try to leave, but we still felt that he had learned to leave better. He is a gelding now and seems a bit more relaxed and he has made two starts after the qualifier. He was a bit sluggish in training last Thursday and lazy in a way that's normal for him. I think he will race well, but I don't know his opponents".
Who is your best chance of these three?
"Flamenco Girl must be the best chance. She's a nice trotter and she will be perfect when we can race her barefoot, then she will get to the next level".