National Treasure

Vermo Star -television series shows a horse a week from trainers whose stables are located near Vermo race track. They have visited a few times on Pertti Puikkonen’s stable this spring, and this episode’s star is the ruling trotter queen I.P. Vipotiina.

Sonja Julkunen: The ruling queen I.P. Vipotiina is heading for the fourth trotter queen crown this summer. Before that she should redeem herself in A.V. Marttila mare contest on upcoming Wednesday.

Jaana Lehtonen, I.P. Vipotiinas groom, how long have you known the horse?

JL: I think it’s the sixth summer now.
SJ: So one could say that you two have got to know each other well. I.P. Vipotiina is known as quite a fiery nature, how does she show it?
JL: Well, she is nowadays quite nice at home, that nature comes out mostly on track.
SJ: How has she trained for these past months at home?
JL: She’s almost daily walking, lots of walk and swimming few times a week. Pertti has also heated other horses keeping vipotiina on a leash beside him.
SJ: So she is not harnessed until the races?
JL: Yes.
SJ: Vipotiina is now racing for 11th year, she is 13 years old, how does her routine show in training?
JL: We have cut down the jogging, we are trying to save her legs by walking and swimming instead.
SJ: How do you feel about Vipotiina, do you think she still could do better and perhaps take the fourth queen title in a row?
JL: I do not know about her records, but she has just as good chances of winning as other horses…
SJ: So you are not bringing a knife to a gunfight?
JL: Never!
SJ: Vipotiinas next challenge is A.V. Marttila mare contest, one mile this Wednesday, how is this for Vipotiina?
JL: It’s fine, she’s good at any distance.
SJ: Which track would have been your favourite?
JL: I think this 9 is just fine for a change, she can save her strength for the last spurt. She has got to outer tracks in her previous starts and had to spurt in the beginning very hard.
SJ: What would you guess for her placing in this race, she has done well but has not won this year yet, could this be it?
JL: We can only hope!

SJ: Bea Puikkonen, you come to your fathers stables to help, what do you think about I.P. Vipotiina?
BP: She is very kind and pleasant horse… and fast, of course.
SJ: You have been present in the queen races to cheer her, how is the atmosphere there?
BP: Of course it is great, and even better when my father is her trainer!
SJ: What do you think about this years queen race?
BP: I just hope that it goes as well as before.
SJ: Do you think you have the best horse for the race?
BP: She will always be the best.

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