By Jonny Turner
Driver Jonny Cox will be out to land wins for two of the South Island’s best thoroughbred trainers at the home of one of New Zealand’s greatest galloping exports on Sunday.
Cox has a strong book of six drives at Phar Lap Raceway including the Lynn Prendergast trained Sonic Reign in race 7.
The six-year-old looks perfectly placed in barrier 2 following his tidy second placing at Addington last weekend.
“He was pretty good at Addington last weekend, he did a bit of work to get to the front and he only just got run down,” Cox said.
“I think the 2600m will suit him a lot better than 1980m and he should be a pretty good chance.”
Sonic Reign opened at $4 win odds and $1.55 place odds in race 7’s fixed odds market.
Cox will also try to chase down a deserved win for Yankee Jay for her owner Brian Anderton in race 4.
“I might have over driven her a touch last time but she stuck on pretty good,” Cox said.
“Her standing start manners have generally been pretty good, so hopefully she can get away and get handy.”
“If she does that she should get her chance.”
Yankee Jay has been rated at a $3.80 fixed odds win price and $1.32 for a place.
Cox will line up the consistent Leconte from his own stable in race 5.
The pacer hasn’t managed to break through for a win yet but has been a regular top four placegetter since joining Cox’s barn.
“We have raced him every week and sometimes twice a week over the past month or so and he has been pretty consistent.”
“Even though it was a Sunday meeting, the field he raced at Addington last weekend was stronger than what he is racing on Sunday.”
“He should be a pretty good eachway chance.”
Leconte opened at a $9 fixed odds win price before moving into $8 on Saturday night.
Lil Ripper in race 3 is also among Cox’s strong book of drives at Timaru on Sunday.
The Greg Payne trained filly disappointed in her last start but was good in her two prior third placings.
“I probably over-drove her last time and she came to the end of it.”
“She was pretty good in her two starts before that and she has got a better draw on Sunday.”
“Hopefully with a bit more luck she will be thereabouts.”
Lil Ripper opened at nice eachway value in race 3’s fixed odds market at her $12 (win) and $3.30 (place) odds.
Cox also combines with Maybe in race 7 and Moment Of Kaos in race 9 at Timaru on Sunday.
