by Michael Guerin
The team behind comeback trotter Eurokash expect good things from him this campaign but warn punters to be a little cautious at Addington tonight.
The son of Love You won twice as a juvenile in 2020 and again at three that year, looking one of the more promising young trotters in the country.
But after failing to return to his best form in autumn 2021, Eurokash was found to have a chip in a hind fetlock that required surgery and a long spell.
He returns tonight in a very competitive R51 and faster trot and Ben Hope, who will drive the now four-year-old says he should be in for a good season.
“Dad (Greg, trainer) really likes him and thinks he can go quite a way,” says Hope.
“But he actually meets a good field for this grade on Thursday. There are some hardened older campaigners in there who are race fit.
“So it won’t be an easy comeback race after so long away. But he is definitely one to watch.”
Hope says Eurokash has good manners that will help him get through the grades but he is not expected to be the first away from the standing start tonight in a competitive field so punters will be wanting each way value to back him.
Hope is looking after the stable as parents Greg and Nina have headed north with A G’s White Socks and Muscle Mountain for the feature races at Alexandra Park’s huge meeting on Friday night.
He rates Mossdale May in race three at Addington as his best chance of driving a winner.
“She is no star but she has gate speed and I think I can roll to the front and this race looks a good one for her.”
Hope will join his parents in Auckland on Friday night and will partner Muscle Mountain when he makes his Alexandra Park debut in the Stewards Mile on Friday night against his nemesis Sundees Son.
“While he hasn’t raced there before Dad worked him a strong mile right-handed on our track last week and said he trotted perfectly,” says Hope.
“If we get off the gate first and lead then I will be keen to stay in front because we know how good he is over the sprint trips.
“We are not planning to hand up to Sundees Son if he is trotting well.”
Muscle Mountain opened the TAB’s $3.50 second favourite for the mile but was quickly backed into $2.70.
Like everybody in harness racing Hope is looking forward to the Taylor Mile, a race A G’s White Sock won four years ago. He will be driven by John Dunn on Friday.
“It is a great race and will be very hard to win but we have been so happy with how he has been finding the line,” he says.