V86® (jackpot): Red hot chances for Christoffer Eriksson
The Christoffer Eriksson stable is on a roll and the winning percentage is currently 26 this year.
It looks good on paper for V86®, both at home at Åby and at Solvalla.
"It looks exciting. The horses that are racing are good and they have good post positions, too. I think several of could win," says Christoffer Eriksson, whose winning machine Cross Lane is one of the hottest chances as he is going for his seventh consecutive win.
The Åby trainer has his stable in good form. His horses have won 23 out of 90 starts and have finished top three in over half of the starts. Last Saturday, we saw Kyrie Eleison win his fourth consecutive win, third in a row in V75®. Christoffer Eriksson has done excellently with the racehorses he has bought and taken to the next level, in the past year. With SEK 2.4 million in earnings for the stable, he is currently seventh in the trainer standings in the entire country.
"Things are going well and I think we have raised the bar in the stable. The horses perform on a high and consistent level," says Christoffer.
"When we moved to the farm in Hajom last year, it took a while to find the right way to train, with the new conditions there. It's just little things, but you learn from your mistakes and practice makes perfect. It feels like we have a good concept now that suits our horses, we did already in the second half of last year, which was excellent. The major part of the stable's earning came in the second half of the year and I think we won nine, or ten times on V75 in that period."
Chasing seven in a row – "The biggest hopes for this year"
With 50 horses in training, trainer Eriksson sends out five starters in V86® Xpress, which is split between Åby and Solvalla this Wednesday. The card is boosted by a jackpot with SEK 15 million in the pool for all eight winners picked. Christoffer Eriksson has starters at both tracks and he drives at Åby himself, where he jumps up behind the winning machine Cross Lane, who makes his seasonal debut in the first leg. The horse is chasing his seventh win in a row and he won seven times in twelve starts last year. He has nine wins in 18 career starts.
"5 Cross Lane (V86-1) has always felt like a very capable horse. He started racing late as a 3-year-old and showed talent in just a few starts that year. He then had some issues but he got going really well at the end of summer, and during the fall season last year. He raced great then and ended the year by winning in V75 in three starts in a row."
"Since he was in such good form when he won the final on Boxing Day, the plan was to keep racing him over the winter, but then he caught a cold and was scratched, so we gave him time off instead. He has trained for a couple of months now and two weeks ago, I trained him at Åby at 1:15/2,000 meters with a quick finish. He felt great and he comes out well prepared. He's not in top form, of course, but he should be good enough to have a chance to win this race."
"He can leave fast if you choose to and the plan is to race him in V75 after this start. He is one of the horses I have the biggest hopes for of all in the stable for this year and he's still in a low class compared to his talent. We will race him the same way we have before; With shoes and in an American sulky," says Christoffer.
"The plan is an American sulky for the first time"
We go through the horse in the order they appear in the program and note that almost every horse drew well.
"3 Nevermind River (V86-2) is also a horse who has matured some over the winter. He was good when he won two starts ago, but last time out, things didn't work out in the race. The tempo picked up, going into the last turn and he interfered, and made a break. Barefoot behind was maybe not perfect for him so, we go back to racing him with shoes all around. The plan is also to race him in an American sulky for the first time. I hope and believe that he will be able to leave a bit faster in that sulky. This is a handicap so, I knew he would draw well. He should be considered early."
"7 Ringo Adore (V86-4) was third in his first start for me, last time out and was a bit sluggish. Maybe I trained him too hard before that start and I think he will be sharper now with that start in his legs. The shorter distance is an advantage this time and it feels like he should be able to leave fast. He drew far to the outside but hopefully, he can leave fast enough to get a good position and end up in the photo. No changes. Barefoot all around and an American sulky again."
"Can leave quickly and trot fast on this distance"
"3 No Limit River (V86-6) has raced well this year with two wins in four starts and he was good also in his most recent start. He trotted on the outside of the leader at a high pace and held on strongly. He is in good form and has a good post. He can leave quickly and the distance will be interesting to try. I think he could trot fast from start to finish. No changes; barefoot upfront and the American sulky stays on."
"1 Ferrara (V86-8) has made one start for me at Åby where he was a bit sluggish. He started with a 40-meter handicap and made a short break mid-race. The horse looks much better now with that start in his legs and he is also better when he races close to the front. I hope he can step away well from his inside post and I think he's good for the class he's in. Barefoot all around and an American sulky this time," says Christoffer Eriksson.
Who would you say is the best chance of your V86 starters?
"Cross Lane is the one I will mention first, but I also have big hopes for Nevermind River and No Limit River. Both Ringo Adore and Ferrara should step up with a start in their legs and normally, they should have a chance to win."