V86®: Walmann believes in a win — with Walmann
The trainer has won most there is to win in a fantastic career and is inducted into the Hall Of Fame.
The horse is a talented 3-year-old who has started his career promisingly and is predicted to have a great future.
Roger Walmann believes much in his horse — Walmann — in V86® at Solvalla.
"I think he wins. It's, at least, a good chance," says the trainer.
The 3-year-old colt, named after his trainer by breeder Lennart Ågren (SRF Stable) was on everyone's lips already after he won his racing debut. Walmann has two wins and one second place in four starts. Trainer Roger Walmann has won most there is to win in harness racing, but he is still missing a victory in Svenskt Travkriterium. You could say that it would be icing on the cake if the horse named Walmann would win that race for his trainer — Walmann. But, it remains to be seen if he even races in the eliminations.
"6 Walmann (V86-6) is pretty good and trained this morning (Monday). I trained him lightly on the straight track, and there's not much to say about that. I just let him stretch out a bit and everything was fine," says Roger Walmann.
"He has always been talented but he's been a bit immature. We gave him plenty of time to develop and I could have raced him much earlier, but there is no fun in racing a horse that keeps making breaks. He has raced well and he's taking steps and developing constantly".
"We have been a bit careful with him, as I said since he wasn't mentally ready. He has been a bit hot in training and nervous when coming to the racetrack. Lennart and I agreed to take it easy and not push him. He has raced better than expected and done great. Last time out, he finished fifth, but that's only because we didn't want to race him first up. He's not a horse you can do that with every time and he has to mature at his own pace first," says the Solvalla trainer.
"Would he race huge, then we have to discuss it"
You have earlier said that a victory in Svenskt Travkriterium is much coveted. Could Walmann himself be a colt that could give you that victory?
"If you ask me today, I would say no, or at least doubtful that he will even race in the eliminations. But, of course, would he race huge on Wednesday, then we have to discuss it. So, we haven't decided yet. We will probably let him mature until next year, but we are planning on racing him in the Breeders Crown eliminations this fall," says Walmann.
The Wednesday V86® Xpress is split between Jägersro and Solvalla and Walmann comes out at the capital track. He starts from post position six in volt start, over 2,640 meters with Claes Sjöström in the sulky again. Trainer Walmann is highly optimistic and believes in another win for Walmann, the horse. In the TV show V75® Direkt last Saturday, he said he would win.
"Yes, I said that he will win, but then I said he has a good chance of winning," Walman says, laughing.
"Of course, it looks good on paper. At the same time, I respect the opponents, but should Claes get a good start and get to the lead, I think he should have a good chance of winning the race".
"He is strong enough for the class and the long distance is no problem, he showed that two starts ago. No changes now, he will race with shoes, open bridle, and in a regular sulky, just as before," says Roger Walmann.