V86® (jackpot): "Going to Bergsåker with a good feeling"
Persistent problems almost got the best of Master Of Zon.
The horse has made it back and has a good spot in V86® at Bergsåker.
"I will try to get to the lead, and I hope we can stay there," says trainer Joakim Eskilsson.
V86® Xpress is split between Solvalla and Bergsåker this Wednesday. Last week's card only had one upset winner, so the payout for six winners picked was canceled, resulting in a SEK 14 million jackpot-boosted pool this week.
Joakim Eskilsson kicked off last year and won eight races in less than two months before his horses got sick. The Romme-licensed trainer is off to a good start this year again, and he hopes his horses will stay healthy.
"Yes, it's terrible when sickness makes it into your stable. When you don't have many horses, you become very vulnerable. I hope we can keep the horses healthy this year and improve the numbers a bit. That's what we work toward," says Joakim Eskilsson.
A horse that is close to his heart is Master Of Zon, who gave Joakim his first and, so far, only V75® victory.
"He's a fantastic horse, who I have trained since day one and he means a lot to me. Unfortunately, he injured a suspensory a couple of months after his V75 win, and that was rough. You need horses like that to be seen. He was on his way back less than a year ago, but then he struggled with his blood count, and it has taken a long time to get him back."
Useful tightener
Master Of Zon has three starts in his legs now and is getting close to top form.
"It feels like he is starting to find his old self again. In his first start back after the long layoff, he was surprisingly good and won easily. It was a cheap race, but the way he did it was impressive".
"In the next start, his stomach was bothering him, and he did not race as well."
"In his most recent start, he got too aggressive in the lead, and the first kilometer was a bit too fast. I think Master Of Zon hung in well to finish third. It was a fast race for this time of the year, and he had a good bounce to his stride across the finish line."
How has he come out of these starts?
"He has come out of them well, especially his most recent start. He handled it the way I wanted. It was a useful tightener for him, and based on how he feels in training, his form is even better now".
Master Of Zon is very quick out of the gate. Are you planning on using him early?
"I will leave and try to get to the lead, and plan A is to race him there. Very few horses can leave with him, especially when they are to his outside. There aren't many that can pass him out of the gate."
"With that being said, you can't leave and race a horse in the lead every time, they easily get tired of that, and in the future, he will get some covered-up trips to build him up and make him stronger, but it looks so good on paper for this start that I want to race him in the lead here".
Are you making any changes?
"I will change his bridle. He has raced in an open bridle before, and last time out, he was almost lazy. He will race with a can't-see-back bridle this now; I want him a bit more alert this time".
What do you think of his chances to win the race?
"I am going to Bergsåker with a good feeling. I think that it was a tougher field in his last start than it is this Wednesday. We have a good post, while the toughest opponents drew worse. I hope we can lead the race from start to finish".