Kapiti Coast Harness Racing Club hosts its annual meeting on the grass at Otaki Racecourse today with the first of seven races getting underway at 11:27am.
Graeme Rogerson and Dylan Ferguson will be backing up their runners from Tuesday’s meeting at Wairarapa and Gaz Man joins the team for the Grant Plumbing Wellington Cup Handicap Trot.
“The horses all performed well on Tuesday and providing they handle backing up they all look to be good each way chances” says Ferguson.
Challenger is the first to line up for the Rogerson/Ferguson partnership in Race 1, The Railway Hotel Mobile Pace. The gelding placed 2nd on Tuesday when narrowly beaten by Saifa.
“I think Challenger is our best chance of the day” says Ferguson “His run was good on Tuesday and he should have a bit of improvement on that effort.”
Luka Doncic starts from barrier 9 in race 3, the Monk Family Mobile Pace. The gelding placed 3rd at Tuesday’s meeting behind winner Cassius Clyde and Katie’s Princess 2nd. Despite a few rough steps halfway up the straight, he rallied well to run nicely through the line.
“He raced well enough on Tuesday and is fairly consistent and the draw should help too,” said Ferguson.
In Race 4, the Rodewald Consulting Mobile Pace, the partnership starts Greater Good. While unplaced on Tuesday, the mare was held up for a run in the home straight after being taken back early from her wide barrier draw. Having drawn four tomorrow Ferguson holds more confidence in her chances.
Gaz Man contends in Race 6, the Grant Plumbing Wellington Cup Handicap Trot over 3000 metres and starts with a 50 metre handicap. While it will be the gelding’s first start on the grass and over the distance, Ferguson thinks the gelding has the class to prevail.
“He’s hasn’t been coping well with the heat and humidity we’ve had over the past couple of weeks at home, so we thought coming down here where it’s a bit cooler was a good option for him” says Ferguson.
“Although he gives them 50 metres, he has been racing much stronger fields, and I think he can overcome that and hopefully he can see out the 3000 metres.”
Racing begins at 11:26am with the final race, the American Me Otaki Cup Handicap Pace at 1:42pm.
