It’s Friday and there’s a double-header at Auckland and Rangiora. Two $35,000 Northern Metro Finals will highlight action at Alexandra Park and there’s a 10 race programme at Rangiora, starting at 1.45pm, where Ben Hope has a “nice book” of drives
Purdon-Phelan team in for a big few days
By Michael Guerin
Star harness racing trainer Scott Phelan is only concerned with what he can control.
So he isn’t losing any sleep over the constantly changing face of next Tuesday’s $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway.
Phelan and senior training partner Barry Purdon train Merlin, who just a few days ago could have been favourite for harness racing’s biggest event but will now start a drifting third favourite without having a thing wrong in between.
It has been a wild week for the Cup with the on-again, off-again campaign of Aussie champion Leap To Fame how on again after a healthy blood test on Tuesday following some virus concerns last weekend.
He will be on a plane from Sydney to Christchurch via Auckland on Sunday but in a remarkable turn of events his older half brother and defending New Zealand Cup champ Swayzee will be on that plane with him.
Swayzee wasn’t even nominated for the Cup but his trainer Jason Grimson changed his mind on Monday and paid a $28,000 late entry fee on Monday to get him into the race.
So there is a lot going on in this New Zealand Cup but Phelan says he and Purdon can only worry about Merlin and stablemate Mach Shard, with their other possible starter Sooner The Better having pulled out.
“It has been a big news week for the race and it is shaping up to be a huge contest, as it should be,” says Phelan.
“But it is important not to get distracted and we can only concentrate on what our horses are doing.
“We couldn’t be happier with Merlin and know he can win so we will keep working on him and the rest of our team and look forward to Tuesday.
Helping keep Phelan and plenty of other harness participants and punters distracted tonight will be the Alexandra Park meeting at which the stable have winning chances in both $35,000 Northern Metro Finals.
Always B Elite is their rep in the pacing final over 2200m and after his dominant heat win over key rival Hawkeye Pierce he is clearly the horse to beat.
“He keeps improving and has found the line really strongly his last few starts,” says Phelan.
“He has a bit of a wide draw but the way he won last week he has to be the one to beat and only being a three-year-old he has bit going for him heading forward.”
Always B Elite clearly outpointed Hawkeye Pierce last Friday and while they meet some handy rivals it will be a surprise if one of the two three-year-olds doesn’t win.
Not quite so clearcut will be the $35,000 Trot with several of the favourites galloping in last Friday’s heat while winner Dream Of You faces a 40m handicap after starting from 25m behind last week.
The Purdon/Phelan team have High Energy starting off a 30m handicap after being denied racing room late last week.
“She went really well considering she hadn’t race for a long time but it is a tricky race.”
Pantani was hot favourite last Friday but galloped twice, once when spooked by a rival galloping next to him but in the home straight for no reason.
“He will need to go better and we might start working him harder,” says Butcher, who is still learning about the three-year-old.
At his best Pantani would be the clear horse to beat but he will want to trot more smoothly than last week in the full field.
Ben Hope with “nice book” at Rangiora
By Mike Love
Driver Ben Hope will be a driver to follow at this afternoon’s Rangiora meeting. Hope will combine with five runners, all trained by his parents Greg and Nina Hope.
“On paper it looks like a nice book. Hopefully we have a bit of luck on our side, and a few of them have the ability to feature,” said Hope.
Kicking off in Race 1, the Warwick Curtain Plumbers Mobile Trot where Hope drives two-year-old Muscle Hill filly Odina ($1.75FF). Odina – whose older brother is none other than Muscle Mountain – was a beaten short favourite last start at Addington, but Hope has high opinions of her albeit with a pinch of caution.
“She’s a lovely filly. She’s probably one of the most talented young horses I’ve driven.”
“She’s still learning. She’s still green. I’ve got no doubt ability wise she’s the best horse in the race. I don’t want to label her because of that, but if she brings her manners she’ll be very hard to beat.”
Zarlini ($5.00FF) is a four-year-old Bettors Delight mare who returns to the grit surface for her third race day start in Race 2, the R Grant Electrical Mobile Pace over 2000m. Since her previous effort at Methven on the grass, Zarlini has been a trial winner at today’s venue showing some zip to win that heat in a handy 57 second half.
“That trial was nice. The draw is no help today though. She’s got ability but will need some luck.”
In Race 7, the Chapman Fencing/Jared Chapman pace over 2600m Hope takes the drive on Blue Rock Dancer ($4.80FF). Drawn the ace and opening as a somewhat loose favourite, the six-year-old A Rocknroll Dance gelding comes into today’s race fresh though he has had a couple of trials to prepare.
“His trials have been good. He’s still a bit on the bigger side so he will benefit from the run. With his good manners and good draw he should be a good each way chance.”
Race 8, the Thank You Richard Wixon (Fillies and Mares) Mobile Pace over 2000m will see Krystal Delight ($10.00FF) gunning for career win number nine.
“She’s been working really good. I’ve been happy with her work and I think she might go a sneaky race.”
“She’s my value drive of the day.”
Rounding out Hope’s book of drives is Jack Tar ($2.10FF) in Race 10, the RHRC Race Again 20 November Mobile Pace over 2600m. The nine-year-old Tintin In America gelding gets in well with the ratings but pays the price with the preferential barrier draw landing on the outside of the gate.
“He’s a nice horse who has been around a while and gone some good races. In saying that, I think he’s a bit short. He can win but he’s going to need a bit of luck from that wide draw.”
Jack Tar is yet to win over the 2600m, though has placed nine times from 22 attempts at the distance.
Hope will also line up his own trotter which he trains in Illegal Immigrant ($5.00FF) in Race 6, the Dawe Contraction Junior Drivers Trot over 2600m with Henry Sail to do the steering.
“She’s been training well. We were a little bit disappointed with her trial the other day, but we found a problem and have sorted it out. Henry will look to lead from the handy draw.”
