"He's a very, very big horse but he was gangly and he didn't have the muscle tone. I told the owner, if you give me a chance with this horse and let me develop him as a four-year-old I think he's going to be a great five-, six-, and seven-year-old."
On today's Trot Radio, Rick Zeron checks in from Europe before the 2012 Oslo Grand Prix. Zeron sends the impressive trotter Windsong Geant into Sunday's event, a 2,100 metre event against the likes of defending champ Arch Madness and European trotting star Commander Crowe. Zeron tells Trot Radio's Norm Borg that the training regimen for his pupil was modified for his tests in the Oslo Grand Prix and the Elitlopp two weeks from Sunday.
"After he defeated San Pail three weeks ago, we gave a him a bit of time off then we started training him a mile and a half because I wanted him to be completely prepared for this race coming up, it's a mile and a quarter race...we prepped him quite well, we trained him an extra quarter mile just to be sure he could endure this event."
Zeron has no qualms about being third in line to represent Canada overseas, and agrees with the connections of San Pail and Mister Herbie for staying home.
"Both of them made the right choice. San Pail does not travel very well, Rod Hughes had explained to me. I knew that Jeff Gillis would not take Mister Herbie because he's only four years old and they only really start racing horses [in Europe] when they're four or five so I knew that he wasn't going to take Mister Herbie over there this year. He's thinking about it next year. So, I knew that I was third in line but I knew that I'd be the first one that would say 'yes'."
The interview also touches on the the pagentry and betting of harness racing in Europe and how they differ from what North American racing fans experience. To listen to the full interview with Borg and Zeron, click the play button below.
Episode 262 – trainer-driver Rick Zeron
Audio Format: MP3 audio
Host: Norm Borg
Please note that the opinions expressed in the featured interview are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect Rideau Carleton Raceway and/or Standardbred Canada.