By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Australia is beckoning Canterbury pacer Arabian Blue, but trainer Steve Dolan is hoping that he can eke out a few more wins from the four-year-old gelding before he heads across the Tasman.
En route to Auckland, the son of Auckland Reactor is making a pitstop at Manawatu Raceway on Tuesday where he will contest the T Market Fresh Mobile Pace (2000m).
It is a big drop in grade for the gelding and Dolan is expecting a positive result from the meeting.
“He will be super competitive, he has raced against much better horses. He is quite a nice horse,” Dolan said.
The Russley horseman has plenty of time for Arabian Blue and said it will be a shame to lose him offshore, however, he has to do the right thing by his connections and believes the handicapping system in New Zealand has forced his hand.
“He’s heading to Manawatu with a view to heading to Australia,” Dolan said.
“He probably won’t stay there for long, but the long-term plan for him is to go to Jack Trainor at Menangle.
“It is a reflection of programming and handicapping in and around Canterbury.”
“I just can’t find suitable racing for him. He is up against horses that are really seasoned and much higher in the ratings, or he can’t get a mobile on a lesser day.
“It is really tricky to place a horse like him. Once you get into R55 or better, next thing you are up against horses that are very good.”
A number of stable predecessors are plying their trade across the Tasman and Dolan believes Arabian Blue has the potential to bank plenty of money for his connections in Australia.
“A couple of horses we have sent to Aussie are doing a fantastic job and their handicapping system allows them to earn quite a lot of money,” Dolan said.
“I would say he is very capable of winning a lot of money in Australia. It is unfortunate that I will lose him, but I am just trying to do the right thing by his owner Les Purdon.
“Les is really enjoying racing him and I just want to get him a return.”
