By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Trotting maestro Paul Nairn will take a trio of square-gaiters to Addington Raceway on Friday and he believes they are all in with a chance.
Unbeaten three-year-old Bitamuscle will be out to extend his winning streak to four in the Haras de Trotteurs Sires’s Stakes Prelude Mobile Trot (1980m)
“He is nice, good-gaited horse,” Nairn said. “I am very happy with him, everything has gone to plan and he has trained on well since his last race.”
The son of Muscle Hill will start from the outside of the front row with Bob Butt in the cart, and Nairn said it will be his biggest test to date.
“His draw isn’t ideal, so we won’t be wanting too much bad luck from there. But in saying that, it’s not a big field,” Nairn said.
“It’s probably the strongest field he has struck, there are quite a few nice ones in there.”
All going to plan Bitamuscle will head towards the Sires Stakes Final before heading to the spelling paddock in preparation for bigger targets later in the season.
“He will have a spell most likely after the sires stakes in a few weeks,” Nairn said. “Then he will get ready for the late summer, early autumn type of races.”
He will be joined in Friday’s race by stablemate Outamyway who will be driven by Nairn after breaking in his last outing.
“He wasn’t getting tired (last start),” Nairn said. “Blair (Orange, driver) said he just got a bit rough and had a gallop on the last bend.
“He is a good staying type of horse and is suited more if they went hard the whole way.”
Nairn will also do the steering behind Gil Favor in the Clarkson Signs – In House Graphic Design Handicap Trot (2600m).
“Gil Favor has been a great wee horse,” Nairn said. “He gets a cheque just about every time he goes to the races.
“I would like to think he is a nice chance off the front with his manners.”
Gil Favor is one of the few representatives on the track for his sire Waterloo Sunset, who Nairn stands at stud.
“Waterloo Sunset has had very limited opportunities, but he is actually leaving nice horses,” Nairn said.
“I have got three mares in-foal to him myself and I think he is a good chance to make it as a sire as long as he gets an opportunity.”
