By Jonny Turner
Coming through their races in good style following day one has put trainer Regan Todd’s team in fine stead ahead of the second day of Blenheim’s popular two-day summer meeting on Sunday.
The Woodend Beach horseman’s five-strong team produced strong performances on Friday and have pleased Todd with the way they have recovered from them.
“The whole team is in the same boat, I hope they back up and I think they should,” Todd said.
“They all seem good [on Saturday] morning, they were all nice and bright.”
“We are pretty lucky where we stay, they all go out in nice big paddocks and they haven’t missed out on much.”
Blazing Impact steps up in grade in race 7 after cruising to victory on Friday without being asked for a serious effort by driver Ricky May.
The five-year-old came away from her win with a 53 rating which could have had her backing up against a tougher line up in race 10.
The field she strikes in race 7 has Todd hopeful his mare can produce another strong effort.
“I think we got quite lucky that we didn’t get put in with Tegan Banner and Terror Maria and co.”
“It will be interesting to see how she goes.”
“Stepping up is always hard for them, but in saying that Ricky did say she won pretty nice on Friday.”
The Todd trained Better Talk Art gave away a draw advantage to Boora in second to her on Friday.
In race 8 on Sunday, it is Better Talk Art and driver Bob Butt that look slightly better off in barrier 7, with Boora outside them in barrier 8.
“I was really happy with that run on Friday, especially coming from where she did, and they run home in 56.7sec (800m),” Todd said.
“The winner of that race is outside us, so that might make it a bit harder for her.”
“Now that our one has had a run on the grass I don’t think Bob would be scared to put her in it.”
Better Talk Art’s second placing on Friday came more than two months after her last run when winning at Ashburton in November.
Though she is backing just two days after her fresh up effort, she should strip a fitter horse.
“I’ve always like this filly, she came a long way so we gave her a wee freshen up.”
“Hopefully this trip away helps her out for things to come.”
Canstar’s run on Friday is best forgotten before assessing her chances in race 9.
The five-year-old copped interference before breaking and losing all hope.
If the can step away and get a trouble-free run on Sunday she looks a decent eachway chance in what looks a winnable race.
“We put a line through the first day, she got wiped out and then she galloped over the crossing, she just got a bit of a fright,” Todd said.
“She has been going near enough in quite smart fields with Belmont Major and co.”
“So, if she gets away she should be a good first three chance.”
Milliondollarmonkey galloped when looking a big winning chance with Butt in the sulky on Friday.
Todd is not convinced he was a sure winner if he had kept trotting, but thought he would have been right in the finish.
The trainer has made a gear change that will hopefully help the seven-year-old keep his gait together.
“He is hit or miss,” Todd said.
“He has had a change of gear, he has non-removable deafeners on him.”
“On Friday, Bob thought he had them covered but he was mucking around a bit.”
“So he pulled the hood and it is the first time we have done it, so he got a bit of a fright.”
“If he steps we will be making sure it is a truly run race.”
“He just gawked around a bit the other day.”
“It is hard to say whether he was going to win or not, but he was going to be right there.”
Todd starts his day with another trotter, Isla Elsie in race 5.
After a strong second on Friday, the five-year-old looks a strong eachway hope again.
“She went really good on Friday, she just got swamped late.”
“If she backs up she should be a good chance.”
Blair Orange takes the reins behind Isla Elsie.
