V86®: First time on a mile track for Tarzan's super sprinter
He is one of the fastest leavers out of the gate in Europe.
On Wednesday, the 8-year-old catapult starter Click Bait gets to try a mile track for the first time when the STL summer tour visits Tingsryd.
"He's a super sprinter so to speak and his best distance is the mile," says trainer Stefan Melander.
Wednesday evenings with V86 equal racing on one track instead of two and an earlier post time for the pick eight races.
The only mile track in Sweden, Tingsryd is this week's host.
The horse that Stefan "Tarzan" Melander calls a super sprinter has raced in two Elitlopps, has won Prins Daniels lopp and earlier in his career, he finished third in the Sprint Championship, all one mile races.
Click Bait has always loved the short distance, but there have been few opportunities to race just one mile.
On Wednesday, the distance is one mile – 1,609 meters – in the feature Milemästaren (V86-7) at Tingsryd, with SEK 200,000 to the winner.
The first time going just one lap on his favorite distance should fit perfectly.
"He has never raced on a mile track, which looks interesting. He should be among the horses who like that and his best distance is the mile. I think so. On the mile, he can race with pretty much any trip," says the Solvalla trainer, who sends one horse to Tingsryd on Wednesday.
Click Bait's regular driver Per Lennartsson is only one win away from career win number 3,000. It might come with the super sprinter.
Lennartsson always says that driving Click Bait is like driving a car, especially at the start. "That horse is magical when the gates open, you just give full gas and go," the driver said about the 8-year-old who might be the fastest leaver in the country.
He must have a good chance to take the lead on Wednesday, from post six behind the gate.
Stefan Melander:
"You have to ask Per about that, I don't know his plans. But Click Bait is incredibly fast out of the gate and is in good shape now, in great shape. It will be interesting to see how fast he can trot when it's just one lap. It will be fast," says the trainer.
"Wins if he gets out"
Click Bait raced in the Sweden Cup at Solvalla and in the elimination he was beaten by the horse who ended up winning the final, Missile Hill, after he got a perfect pocket trip behind Click Bait. Click Bait took the lead in the final too, but let Always Ek and Alessandro Gocciadoro go after 500 meters and got stuck behind him.
"Per said that he wins the race if he gets out".
You always say that Click Bait does not like the winter and is always at his best in the summer?
"Yes, he is so happy when it's 20-25 degrees out. He's like me, I like the warm weather and hate the cold and the snow. Even though he's eight years old, I don't think he's ever been better. He's like me there too, he just keeps getting younger!" Melander says.
How will he race on Wednesday?
"Same as Solvalla, with his optimal equipment; American sulky, barefoot all around, and a blind bridle. All Per has to do is to lean back and go. No, but it will be interesting. He is in against a couple of elite horses so it's not an easy race. But he's good himself, too".
Footnote: Post time for the first leg of V86® on Wednesday is at 19:20.