V86® (jackpot): "I never had a better horse"
He is the winning machine that time after time gets back up after tough injuries.
Stepping Dreamboy has come back from three different fractures — and has won two out of three starts after returning once again.
It looks good on paper for the fast-leaving horse in V86® at Solvalla.
"I don't think I ever had a more talented horse. I hope he can take the lead and these are horses he can beat," says trainer Eric Martinsson.
The Wednesday V86®, which is split between Bjerke and Solvalla, comes with a jackpot. There is SEK 14 million in the pool for all eight winners picked. The Axevalla trainer Eric Martinsson makes the trip to Solvalla with one horse, Stepping Dreamboy, who has won 13 times in 33 starts and made SEK 630,800. His winning percentage is 39 and he has finished top three in 55 percent of his starts. But there have been lots of problems with the 6-year-old son of Readly Express, who has suffered some tough injuries throughout the years. He returned a second time on October 14 and won right away in Åmål. That was eleven months after his previous start.
"He fractured the same coffin bone twice. It was the same thing last year when he only made three starts and was off for a long time before that. He also a fractured cannon bone. The horse has never been injected in a joint, but has suffered three fractures," says Eric Martinsson.
How could he have suffered three fractures?
"It could be his own fault, if he does it in his stall or in the field. He's a very gentle horse but he gets angry when he eats. He bangs his legs in the wall. But we have padded the inside of his stall now. When he was injured, he was on stall rest for four months each time. But he likes spending time in his stall and he's a calm and quiet horse. He just gets angry when he eats".
What about his three starts this year, whereof he won two?
"He first won easily from the lead in Åmål, and then he made a break at Åby from post four in a volt start race in the following start. He came back trotting quickly and raced first up at first, before he got some cover. But the cover was no good and we thought it would be a better horse to follow. So, he got stuck behind that horse and would have had a good chance to win, had he just gotten out".
"In his most recent start, he had post twelve, which is never fun, but Jepson right-lined him as soon as he could and made a move to sit outside the leader. The horse was very good, he won without having to go all out and it was nice to see".
How does he feel in training after that?
"He has trained twice after his most recent start and feels good. He is sound and healthy and we can just hope that he stays that way now. He has shown that he's a good horse from day one".
How highly do you think of Stepping Dreamboy?
"I don't think I ever had a more talented horse. But when he has raced behind horses, he hasn't been as interested and has been a much better horse in the lead. He's a very nice horse and it's been sad to see these injuries. We really like this horse and want him to be healthy" says Eric.
"Looks good on paper"
Stepping Dreamboy drew post four behind the gate in the last V86 leg. It's a short distance race and Per Lennartsson is listed to drive. Trainer Martinsson is optimistic and believes in another win.
"It looks good on paper and after a scratch, he has moved down to post three. He is very quick out of the gate and I hope he can take the lead. His stats are good in the lead and these are horses he should have a good chance of beating. Last time he raced at Solvalla, last year, he got locked in with plenty left, and he is at least as good right now. I don't know how good Nurmos' horse (Mellby Jail) is, his horses can be phenomenal after a layoff. But I think my horse should have a good chance to win".
Besides racing with shoes all around now, are you making any other changes?
"He has raced with heavy shoes upfront and barefoot behind in all three starts this year. Since he has raced with steel shoes upfront, the barefoot ban won't affect him as much as many other horses, who might have raced barefoot and now have to race with shoes. He will also get some grip in his hind shoes. Other than that, he will race in an American sulky and in an open-eye blind bridle as usual. Per Lennartsson will drive this and that should work out well" says Eric Martinsson.