V86®: Excitement in the air with one of the best horses in the world
On Wednesday night, Solvalla's racing manager Anders Malmrot gets to see the track's and possibly the world's best trotter race again at his home track.
Even though Calgary Games has not raced for over a year, the horse is the favorite to win the toughest trot race in the world, Prix d'Amerique, which says a lot about his greatness.
"I think it's fun that he is on the V86® card".
Over a year has gone by since Calgary Games last raced. The hiatus was not due to any health issues. The horse has fulfilled stallion duties and been trained as usual.
Calgary Games is one of many star trotters developed by trainer Timo Nurmos over the years. In 2018, Timo's best horse thus far Readly Express made history when winning Prix d'Amerique in Paris, France.
Readly Express was six years old when he made it into the history books. His son Calgary Games turns six on New Year's Day and he is also a horse for the toughest trot race in the world.
The superstitious trainer Timo Nurmos has tried avoiding all talk about the coming winter in France for Calgary Games, and the start on Wednesday in Gösta Nordin's race (V86-2) could be the race that determines whether they will go for it or not.
Solvalla's racing manager Anders Malmrot:
"The best horse in the world or not...he is one of the best for sure. We have a few big stars in Sweden who are among the best trotters in the world. Besides Nurmos' horse, we also have San Moteur and Francesco Zet, they are stars we need to promote and be grateful for" he says.
Promote the best
Calgary Games races on the V86 card, which Malmrot appreciates.
When it comes to building up and promoting the stars for the good of the sport, he thinks that the best horses in the sport (even though they rarely lose) should not always race outside these multi-race wagers.
Calgary Games will be one of the biggest favorites in V86 history on Wednesday, maybe the biggest one of them all.
Anders Malmrot:
"I think it's fun that he gets to race on the V86 card and that the sport is put in front of the betting on an occasion like this. And there is usually a good payout even when the big favorites win. I have seen both positive and negative responses to him being on the V86 card. I think it's absolutely right, we have to promote these stars".
You were working as a handicapper before you started as the racing manager for Solvalla and you handicapped many races when horses like Victory Tilly and Järvsöfaks were on top of their game. How would you express yourself now to describe how superior Calgary Games is, in order to not step on any owner's toes?
"Everyone knows that he is in a different league than the horses he faces on Wednesday. He will hopefully take on some of the best trotters in the world in Paris and the race on Wednesday should be just a step on his way there. The important thing is how he moves and that he still looks good so the we can keep dreaming of Prix d'Amerique. But most likely, he will win".
To talk about his chances must be a little strange for Timo Nurmos this time, as the horse should just go out and win this race. Will he be on 85% of the tickets?
"I think Calgary Games will be an even bigger favorite than that".
Can you describe your feeling when you saw him qualify a few weeks ago with Björn Goop at Solvalla?
"He looked very good and Björn was pretty much just a passenger. The horse set the pace himself and he trotted under the Swedish record in a qualifier. Yes, he is an extraordinary horse".
Did you get the famous chills when something like that happened?
"I sure did and I think we will on Wednesday again. Already when he qualified (on November 2) there was a good crowd here and when Björn left the track, people were standing there just to get a look at the horse. It was great to feel his attractiveness. I hope people will make it out to the apron on Wednesday and appreciate him for the world-class trotter that he is".