V86®: "Mulberry is a top horse — my best chance"
Christoffer Eriksson has settled in at the farm in Hajom.
On Wednesday when V86 is split between Solvalla and Åby, he has seven starters.
"Mulberry is my best chance. He's a top horse," says the Åby licensed trainer.
Almost a year has passed since Christoffer Eriksson left Jägersro, moved to his father-in-law Robert Bergh's farm in Hajom, and became an Åby licensed trainer. People and horses have settled in well and the stable has won several times in V75. As recently as last Thursday, the stable won three races.
"It can take some time to settle in and get things right at a new farm. It's been a smooth transition, even if you always wish for better and more consistent results. You adjust and make some small changes all the time and overall, I'm pleased and feel that we progress every day," says Christoffer Eriksson.
It is the season of yearling auctions and the stables are filling up with new young talents which Christoffer follows with excitement, while he has chosen a different route.
"There is a market for buying racehorses and I think we have been successful in finding many horses who have improved and won both in V75 and France and have made good money".
A lucky purchase is Mulberry who has made almost SEK 1 million since he joined the Eriksson stable.
"He has been fantastic and is still improving, and the plan is to take him back to France again. We have enjoyed some nice success down there and we plan on having five or six horses there this upcoming winter meet".
The Wednesday V86 card is split between Solvalla and Åby and the Eriksson stable has seven starters, among them the already mentioned Mulberry, who now returns after the clunker, last time out.
"3 Mulberry (V86-5) was sick with a sore throat in his last start. That is the only time he has raced badly since he came to me. He has trained as usual after that and I am happy with him. Mulberry was incredible two starts ago and I think very highly of him. I don't know if he will be as sharp on Wednesday, but he's such a good horse that he still has a chance to win, and he's my best chance on the card".
Here are Christoffer Eriksson's comments on the rest of his V86 starters:
"9 Otten Korall (V86-1) is in good form, but hasn't gotten the lucky bounces lately and she's better than her past performances. Two starts ago, she was locked in and last time out, she didn't find a spot and had to take back to last. She closed well once she got the chance. She feels good in training and will race in an American sulky again".
"4 Nyras Lars R. (V86-3) was good at his last win, two starts ago. He raced well in his most recent start too but we didn't find a spot and I had to take him back to last. I gave him a nice trip after that and he felt good and was strong across the wire. He feels like he's still in good form in training and he leaves fast regardless of the post position and should find a good spot here. He can win".
"1 Rossi Garline (V86-3) has had some bad luck lately. He started in volt start, in his most recent start and when the other horses left hard, he got over-ambitious and made a break. I trained him after that and he felt good. I hope he is on the right path again. Now that he starts behind the gate, he should stay flat. He raced with an open bridle in his last start, he will get a blind bridle this time and I expect a good effort from him".
"4 Cax Paixano (V86-6) makes his first start for me and I think he feels like a good horse. I have trained him in 1:18/2,600 meters in a good way. I think he is handicapped too tough here, he should have been on the starting distance. It's hard for me to talk about his chances, I hope for a good effort and he will race with shoes and in an open bridle".
"6 Herina Sotto (V86-7) is an exciting new acquisition. We have had her for around five weeks and she has trained as usual and feels well-prepared. I trained her in 1:23/2,100 in a jogcart at the farm. I was pleased with her and she feels pretty versatile. She raced well for her previous trainer and I think she will do well in the mare races here in Sweden. We might even take her to France, but time will tell. I don't know how she has raced before, but I will race her barefoot all around, in a can't see back bridle and an American sulky".
"12 Organzza (V86-7) has raced well all year and has improved a couple of notches. She made a break in her last start and felt strong after that. This post is ice cold for her and she needs a lot of luck".