By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Son Of Patrick will take a lot of improvement into the inaugural Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 1 Trot (1980m) at Addington Raceway on Friday night, according to co-trainer and driver Scott Phelan.
The three-year-old gelding ran home well to finish a half-head shy of Leaf Stride in the Sires’ Stakes Prelude (1980m) last week and Phelan was delighted with his performance.
“He only arrived down there on Tuesday so we were pretty happy with the way he stepped up, especially just getting down there. He should be better this week,” said the South Auckland horseman, who trains in partnership with Barry Purdon.
It was just the third start for the budding trotter, who was victorious in his previous start at Cambridge.
“It wasn’t the greatest maiden field (at Cambridge), but he did it with a lot of ease and he was just too good for them. It was a good stepping stone for him anyway,” Phelan said.
The Father Patrick gelding has drawn barrier two on Friday, but Phelan doesn’t have any intentions of burning off the gate with his charge.
“He was just gawking at the mobile a little bit last week and we don’t really have to push him out of the gate,” Phelan said. “There are only seven in it, so he will get his chance somewhere along the line.
“It looks like there is a bit of speed in there, so we will just play it by ear out of the gate.
“Hopefully there is a bit of speed on early and we will come into it late.”
Phelan has always had plenty of time for Son Of Patrick and he is looking forward to sitting behind him in his next two southern assignments.
“He has always shown plenty of ability,” Phelan said. “Jeff Whittaker broke him in down there and he is back there now. From day one he has shown promise.
“He will head to the Sires’ Stakes in two weeks and then we will head home after that and give him a little break before he gets ready for the three-year-old races back at home.”
Phelan will be back on a plane on Saturday morning to head north to Cambridge Raceway’s meeting where his stable will have two runners.
Some Do will contest the Dunstan Horse Feeds Mobile Pace (2200m), while Little Miss Perfect will line-up in the gavelhouse.com Standardbred Auction Online Now Mobile Pace (2200m).
“Some Do went great first-up and she was a bit disappointing last time,” Phelan said. “It’s a bit of a drop back so hopefully she can bounce back to winning form.
“Little Miss Perfect will need a little bit of luck. She is going near enough at the moment, so hopefully she can get back in the winner’s circle too.”
