V86®: "The best horse I have"
Marc Baek Nielsen does not make the trip to Sweden often.
But when he does, he has serious plans of winning.
"I think Moni Talks should have a good chance to win," says the Dane.
The Elitlopp weekend is over and Solvalla takes a break this Wednesday which means that V86® is shared between Bollnäs and Åby. Marc Baek Nielsen makes the trip to the west coast track.
The 31-year-old is part of the younger generation of trainers in Denmark. To say that Danish trotting is not ranked very highly in Europe is no exaggeration. The purses are low and the future does not look very bright.
Marc Baek Nielsen is living his dream as a trainer and has never regretted his choice.
"No, never. I decided early that I wanted to do this for a living. I started going to Bo Westergaard's and Peter Jensen's stables when I was 12. I was there after school, on my breaks, and in the summers. 2009 I started working for them and I was there for two years before I started working for Flemming Jensen. All three are great teachers and I learned a lot from them," says Marc Baek Nielsen.
First time in an American sulky
He brings two horses to V86 at Åby and has the highest hopes for 1 Moni Talks (V86-5).
"She's a real good horse, the best horse I have in training and I hope she stays healthy, sound, and can develop further, then she could be very good. We bought her at the Åby sale, so she's Swedish-born and I hope she can race in one of the stakes".
After a seven-month-long hiatus, the 4-year-old mare raced well in her seasonal debut at the beginning of May.
"She won from the lead in a good time and was not tired. I couldn't dream of a better season debut. She trained well before that and came well-prepared and I expected a good effort from her. I think she was even better than I hoped and the future looks good".
How much better will she be this time?
"She got out of the race well and feels great. I think she will be quite a bit improved and she needs to".
Can she leave?
"She can leave well and has taken the lead twice. I don't know how she measures up against the Swedish horses. Either way, she should get a good trip and at Åby they have the passing lane".
Any changes for this start?
"She will race in an American sulky for the first time. I think she will be perfect in it".
What do you think of her chances?
"I stick my neck out and think she has a good chance to win, even if it's hard for me to evaluate her against the Swedish horses. She's such a good horse, I have a hard time believing anyone else in the race has a much better horse".
You also have 11 Honor (V86-3) racing, what are her chances?
"Last time she raced, she was a bit too aggressive and it wasn't her best day. She feels good in training and I believe in a good effort. The post position is bad and if there's anything positive about it, I think she will stay quiet. She has a good speed and with the right trip, I'm not surprised if she could finish third, or fourth".