V86® (jackpot): The coldblood king is back
The form might not be all that good for the coldblood king Månlykke A.M. who has only made two starts this year.
That might open up for one of the up-and-coming horses in Steggbests Minne at Skellefteå.
"He feels really good again after his pollen allergy, but I think we have to lay a bit low this time" says trainer Gunnar Melander about the Wednesday start.
Skellefteå Racetrack has its biggest race day of the year in July instead of in October, as it was for many years. Now with V86® instead of V75®.
The STL racecard on Wednesday is of high class and betting-wise, there is a jackpot in play on V86 and according to ATG's calculations, a sole winner can take home SEK 16 million.
The season did not turn out the way Gunnar Melander had hoped for Månlykke A.M.
In the middle of May, the 9-year-old raced very poorly in a V75 race at Umåker, where he finished seventh.
The horse was checked out after the race. Gunnar Melander was relieved by the veterinarian's report.
"He had some form of pollen allergy which made him race poorly - he hasn't had any other issues. But we let him take it easy for a while and he has trained as usual after that" says Melander.
His last sharpening heat turned out well and after that, the horse was entered to Steggbests Minne (V86-4) in Skellefteå.
Månlykke A.M. drew post position four behind the gate over the sprint distance.
"We obviously can't expect any top form on Wednesday. My horse feels good, so no problem there. But this turned out to be a very good race and the other horses have been racing all spring and summer" says the trainer.
"A very tough race on Wednesday"
It took some time to get the allergy taken care of, and the 9-year-old has only made two starts this year.
Five of the ten starters in the Wednesday race come from the Jan-Olov Persson stable.
B.W.Sture won the first final of the year at Solänget a couple of weeks ago and he is one of the horses in good form, from the Hagmyren trainer's stable.
Jan-Olov Persson also trains Bäcklös Uriel, a horse who has taken huge steps this year.
Gunnar Melander is impressed.
"Bäcklös Uriel is a horse who has gotten a lot better this year. He is improving a lot. But, as I said, we also have a good horse and we should at least be in the mix" says Melander.
Aiming for the fourth straight national championship
The plan is to have Månlykke A.M. back in top form in a month.
Saturday, August 26 is the date for the Swedish Championship at Bergsåker. A race that Gunnar Melander's horse has won the last three years.
In 2020, 2021, and 2022, Månlykke took home the gold medal.
"We have to work towards that. There is a regular overnight race at Bergsåker 12 days prior to that and the plan is to race him there, to get him back in top form".