V86®: Heroic last time out — Fortune Mearas due for a win
He spent the entire race three wide but still ended up in the photo.
Fortune Mearas delivered a heroic effort last time out. Jimmy H Andersson hopes his horse will get his win this week.
"My feeling is good, and I don't feel defeated beforehand," says the trainer who also starts the talented Easter Egg in V86®.
Solvalla shares this week's V86® card with Bergsåker.
The Bollnäs trainer, Jimmy H Andersson, makes the trip to Sundsvall with two horses. One of them is the double millionaire 10 Fortune Mearas (V86-7), who in his last start delivered a heroic effort.
From post position eight behind the gate, the horse got hung out three wide and stayed there the entire race. Despite the awful trip, the horse dug in and finished fourth, less than half a length from the race winner.
"Yes, he was awesome," Jimmy says, laughing and adds: "My horse never stopped trying. He dug deep all the way to the finish line, and it was one heck of an effort. He has only done some light training after that start, but it feels like his form is great. He raced well at Bergsåker two starts ago too, and last time out, he was just awesome."
Fresh 10-year-old
Even if the passport says that Fortunate Mearas is ten years old, he is in incredible form.
This Wednesday, he faces several experienced warriors. It is a volt start race, which could be an advantage, according to the trainer.
"Hopefully, we can get a covered-up trip; he is also a pretty good closer. It would be great if we could get a nice trip this time and just close. Volt start is good for him, he feels safe in the start, and it won't be the same stress before the race as it is behind the gate".
It has been a while since Fortune Mearas last won a race. Is he due for a win now?
"That's right, he is not the same horse he once was in that sense, but he always races well. If I find a fitting race with a good post behind the gate, he should be a winner. It's just a coincidence that he hasn't won a race lately. We hope that he will soon, it could be this week".
A horse with many good qualities
A couple of races earlier, Jimmy sends out the stablemate 7 Easter Egg (V86-3).
A 6-year-old who, for his previous trainer, Daniel Wäjersten, showed a lot of potential but who has not made that many starts in his career. The son of Maharajah now makes his third start for trainer Jimmy H Andersson after having finished second in his first start and third last time out.
"He raced well both times. Last time out, things didn't go as planned and he was struggling on the surface and made a short break into the first turn. All that considered, his effort was good. Unfortunately, he stepped on himself and got a small wound on his foot that took some time to heal".
Is that something that worries you for this start?
"He feels good in training, but of course, it would have been optimal if he had trained continuously after his last start, but he feels like he will deliver a similar effort as he did in his last start. He's a good horse with many good qualities, but he hasn't peaked yet. There are things he can improve on and develop further," says the trainer and adds:
"We changed his shoes after his last start. He used to race with PG shoes. We took some weight off, so now he races with regular steel shoes so that he can grab the track a bit better. It works well in training, so we will see how it works in a race".
You drew far out behind the gate. What are your thoughts?
"We will see how things unfold from out there; he can leave pretty well. Last time out, he sat in the pocket, and in the start prior, he showed that he could close well. It feels like he's a versatile racehorse".
How do you want to sum up your chances?
"It feels like both my horses should have a good chance of finishing top three, my feeling is good, and I don't feel defeated beforehand."