V86® (multi jackpot): A Rendez Vous for Peter in the winner's circle again?
With only three racehorses in his stable, Rendez Vous means a lot to Peter Johansson.
After the much longed-for STL win last time out, the amateur trainer from Vaggeryd hopes that his favorite horse can extend his win streak further.
V86® Super Days culminate this Wednesday.
After five straight weeknights with the same betting form, we have reached the Super Days Grande Finale, and the eight races are split between Jägersro and Solvalla with a fantastic multi jackpot.
Peter Johansson makes the trip to the national arena of trots. He brings 5 Rendez Vous (V86-6), a 5-year-old gelding who has charged hard around the country's racetracks lately. The horse from Vaggeryd is currently sporting a three-start win streak, and his effort last time out at Färjestad was mighty impressive; Rendez Vouz was sitting last in the field in a Class 1 leg but managed to get up to win after a strong finish, despite a wide last turn.
"It was great" says Peter, and adds:
"Everything seems well with him; he raced well last time out, his form seems good, he feels alert and happy, and he seems to have come out of that start well".
Your horse has progressed nicely lately?
"He has, but I have known the entire time that he is a very good horse, and I'm not really surprised, but I didn't expect him to do this well".
Been with the horse since day one
Peter is not only the trainer of Rendez Vous. He is also the owner and breeder of the horse who saw the light of day in France, and the horse is by a stallion that is not that well-known in Sweden.
"Yes, I have been with him since day one. He was born on January 21, 2018, when we were in Paris. My first thought was to breed to Up And Quick, but then I saw this stallion, Atlas de Joudes, and thought he was such a gorgeous looking horse so we decided to book our mare to him instead. He was the first son of Ready Cash to stand stud and his pedigree is very similar to Bold Eagle's. It seems to have worked out this time" Says Peter.
What are your horse's best qualities?
"I think he has very good confirmation, with his withers and the great depth, plus he has a gait that works well. He is not that big, but he has a good kick to his stride. His heart- and lung capacity are both very good".
A horse that means happiness
Rendez Vous won his most recent start, which means that he is qualified for the STL finals on Solvalla's star-studded Kriterie Saturday, October 14. But first up, he starts at the very same track this Wednesday. He does so in a leg of the Solvalla series".
"Nothing suggests that his form would have declined after his last start. I never train my horses at any faster speed; they have to race into top form. My plan is for them to improve off of each start they make. So, he hasn't trained very hard after his last start, some tougher jogging, you might call it".
So, we have to believe that he should have a good chance to make it four in a row?
"He is in against tough horses again, but he should be one of the winning candidates. We drew post five and he is not very quick in the start; you have to give him time to find his stride, so I guess he will end up first up. But he can handle that. We will see how it develops, but all that is up to Erik Adielsson and he has driven him a couple of times before, so I won't interfere with any of that".
For Peter Johansson, from Forserum, between Jönköping and Nässjö, Rendez Vous obviously means a lot.
"I am pretty much retired nowadays and spend all my time on my horses. I'm a small amateur trainer with only three racehorses so for me to get a horse like this, it's pure happiness. It's something you wish everyone could experience. He doesn't have that super pedigree either and for us to be able to compete with all the big trainers, it's just huge".