By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Hamilton trainers Graeme Rogerson and Dylan Ferguson have become a dominant force at Cambridge Raceway and they are hoping to continue their strong run on Thursday.
The pair will be represented by eight runners at the Waikato track and they are confident they can head home with a couple of winning cheques.
Loutenant has been in consistent form, stringing together three placings before breaking through for his maiden win last start, and his connections are hoping for a repeat performance on Thursday in the TRT Parts Mobile Pace (1700m).
“He is racing really well and I think he is getting better and better each time,” Dylan Ferguson said.
“He should be a pretty decent chance and it wouldn’t surprise me if we see a bit better horse than when he won last start. He is going in the right direction.”
Enigmatic trotter Gaz Man will start from behind the 35m tape in the TRT Service Handicap Trot (2200m) and Ferguson is confident of a winning result if the four-year-old gelding brings his manners.
“It’s all up to which Gaz Man turns up on the night,” Ferguson said. “He seems to be working well at home and if he trots the whole way he is going to be pretty hard to beat.”
Ferguson said Unico Gem has found her grade in the amateur ranks, and he is looking for a positive result from her in the Tidd Crane Mobile Pace (2200m) in the hands of Michelle Northcott.
“That is her grade in the amateur races. I think she has had two starts in them for a win and a third,” Ferguson said.
“It is a tough draw (6) for her, so she is going to need a bit of luck, but if things go her way, she won’t be too far away.”
Luka Doncic has also been luckless with his draw (11) in the Traction Air Mobile Pace (2200m).
“He has drawn the worst possible barrier in both of his career starts so far,” Ferguson said.
“He put in a good effort in his first start and I think he is on the way up and we are going to see the best of him in six months I think.
“If things go his way on Thursday night, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him winning.”
Stable veterans High Point and Jackka Cooper have drawn barriers three and four respectively in the Kobelco Mobile Pace (1700m) from where Ferguson hopes they get economical trips.
“They are a couple of old campaigners of the stable, they go around every meeting,” he said.
“Mobiles aren’t as advantageous to High Point as standing starts but they can both get money if they turn up on the night.”
I’llavabubbles was runner-up at the Waikato track last start and Ferguson is hoping she can go one better in the Grove Manitowoc Mobile Pace (1700m) despite her awkward draw (8).
“She is not having much luck with the barrier draws,” he said. “1700m and a bit of gate speed inside of her is going to make it hard for her, but I think she is in the sort of form that when she does get a good draw she should pretty much win.
“If she got a bit of luck and they went hard in front of her, she could win, but she is probably looking for a better barrier draw.”
Holyrood will round out the night for the barn in the TRT Made Possible Mobile Pace (1700m) and Ferguson believes she can make it back-to-back wins after drawing the ace marble.
“It was a bit of a surprise her winning last start. She has come up with a good draw and if she gets a nice trip on the fence she can get money again,” he said.
