Tetrick Wania and Corazon Combo meet in Vermont

Riina Rekilä will hand over the reins of Tetrick Wania to Michael Nimczyk from Germany on Wednesday. Ville Toivonen

The race in Vermo on Wednesday night has been named the Three-Year Star, and the name is now truly covered. Only five trotters are aiming for the first prize of 5,000 euros, but two of Finland’s most watched young trotters will be involved when Tetrick Wania and Corazon Combo meet for the first time.

Tetrick Wania is an international superstar whose stages have already been written in capital letters. The Blue-blooded stallion ended his two-year season with five second-best victories, and Tetrick Wania has had plenty to talk about anyway. Owner breeder Riina Rekilä sold the stallion to the German at the end of the year To Karin Walter-Mommertand although the duo has not commented on the purchase price, the general perception is that this is perhaps the toughest Finnish horse trade ever.

Although the owner changed, Tetrick Wania has been in Riina Rekilä’s stable for the winter. In Vermo, however, Tetrick Wania is in control Michael Nimczykwhose team Tetrick Wanian is set to move to in the future.

Tetrick Wania last competed in late November.

– The winter has gone well and the horse is training well. Now we just have to start letting go of the race, Riina Rekilä describes.

According to Rekilä, Tetrick Wania has been trained mainly in the winter. Behind is one of the more vigorous track training that Nimczyk went to ride a couple of weeks ago.

– It hasn’t been terribly raced before the first start. Nimczyk drove a mile in it for 1.15, or maybe a little less, but it is the only tougher run, and you would think that the horse would move forward with the starts, Rekilä says.

Tetrick Wania is Riina Rekilä’s own creation in every way. He drove the stallions to last season’s winnings himself, but now he’s watching its race performance from across the fence.

– It’s a lot worse to look next to you than to drive yourself. Looking at it from the side is much more exciting, but fortunately there has been so much else to do that I haven’t had much time to think about it yet, Rekilä laughs.

No run-through to Tetrick Wania should be allowed, as another super-talented foal will face. Pekka Korven driven and coached by Corazon Combo has won all eight of their starts. The duo are meeting for the first time.

– The Corazon Combo is a really great and good horse, no horse wins eight times in the tube if it is not an exceptional individual. However, I haven’t thought in detail about how the race will go. Let’s go and see how it goes, Riina Rekilä says.

“I’m looking forward to it”

Corazon Combo is the creation of Pekka Korvi. He is the instructor and coach of the stallion and, through his company, its co-owner and breeder. Ravendid legend Korpi is respectful of the upcoming Tetrick Vania on Wednesday.

– Of course, we always strive for victory and we are competitive, but Tetrick Wania is probably better than our foal. There is no shame in losing that, Pekka Korpi estimates.

The eight winning tubes in the Corazon Combo include the prizes of the prestigious Horse Owner’s Trophy and the Breeder’s Crown.

– Especially in Lahti (in the Horse Owners’ Trophy) it was a pretty hard run, there was a strong run both at the beginning and at the end, Korpi said.

Starting with eight wins in the top starts is not an ordinary part for Korve, who is used to it.

– Time will tell how far the Corazon Combo will go, but I look forward to it. It has a good trot and is a nice foal that does well anyway. It has suddenly evolved to that level.

The Corazon Combo has one start this year. Korpi emphasizes that the horse is not yet on top.

– There was a lot of training in the winter, and it doesn’t have to be at its best yet, when the goal is in the summer and autumn.