By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Brent Mangos is hoping promising trotter Elegant Peak will bring her manners to Cambridge Raceway on Thursday night when she lines-up in the Xmas Packages Are Selling Fast. Book Today Trot (2200m).
The four-year-old mare finished runner-up on debut at Alexandra Park in July before breaking on a number of occasions at the Auckland track last start and was eventually pulled up by Mangos.
“She hasn’t had a start for a wee while and made a couple of breaks last start,” Mangos said. “She did lose a shoe just after the start, which didn’t help.
“But she went really well in her first start.”
The daughter of Peak will head into Thursday’s assignment in a fresh state and Mangos is confident she will be right in the finish.
“Hopefully she should be back on track and I think she will go a good race,” he said.
“She is a mare who can win three or four races, but she does lack a little bit of ring craft. In saying that, I think she will be pretty hard to beat on Thursday if she trots all the way.”
Mangos will also line-up three-year-old filly Banter who will be on debut in the Bruntwood Equestrian – Horse Agistment Mobile Pace (2200m).
“She goes okay,” Mangos said. “She has got a little bit to learn, but her trials have been good enough to say that with a little bit of luck in the running she will run in the first four.”
Meanwhile, Mangos will have two drives for Palmerston North trainer Stephen Doody, including Greatest Showman in the Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Series Heat 2 Mobile Pace (1700m), and Emmi Rose in the Gregory Equine Saddlery For The Best Fit Mobile Pace (2200m).
“Greatest Showman will probably struggle in that field,” Mangos said. “He has drawn (2) to get a nice run, so he could be a first four player.
“I think Emmi Rose is a very good chance. She has gone two very good races but has drawn badly again (14), she hasn’t had a lot of luck with the draws lately.
“I think she is a winning chance with a little luck in the running.”
