By Jonny Turner
Trainer Graeme Anderson does not know quite what to expect from new stable recruit Sagwitch at Forbury Park on Wednesday night.
The seven-year-old will be out to recapture his best form when he starts for the Westwood Beach horseman and his training partner, Mike Love, for the first time in the fast class pace.
Classy when at his best, Sagwitch has struggled to produce consistently good form since his excellent five-year-old season.
Though all signs are positive for the pacer heading into race 8, there is still a little bit of the unknown surrounding Sagwitch.
“I have just been keeping him happy and not doing a whole lot with him, so it is all a bit of a mystery, really,” Anderson said.
“It is a bit mental with a lot of these older horses.”
“He has worked well this week, but it is all in the lap of the gods, really.”
“All I know is he is happy and his work has been good for what we have done with him, but I can’t declare him a winner or anything like that.”
Sagwitch starts from barrier 7 with his stablemate Tres Chic on his inside in barrier 8.
Tres Chic has not been sighted since running fifth on Tuapeka Cup Day, more than seven weeks ago.
“I gave her a nice trial last Friday at Winton, she ran second to Memphis Tennessee,” Anderson said.
“She just sat in behind them, it was quite nice.”
“She had a bit of a break after her last race and she will be better for it.”
“She had a couple of tough runs last time.”
“But she is well and I couldn’t be happier with her.”
“Just the outside draw doesn’t really help her in that sort of company.”
Both Anderson-Love horses give away a key advantage to Ferritts Sister, who starts from barrier four.
The Geoff and Jude Knight trained mare was excellent when running second with a minor gear issue behind Mighty Flying Art at Winton last week.
The Anderson-Love stable also start two horses in race 6 in Beaudiene Hustler and Who’s Smokin.
Beaudiene Hustler will also debut for the Westwood Beach trainers when stepping out with Ellie Barron in the sulky.
The four-year-old was fourth, with Who’s Smokin in front of him in third, in a sedate heat at the Winton workouts.
“He wouldn’t take the passing lane, he was hanging out, which is a bit odd for a horse of his experience,” Anderson said.
“I have seen a few of his replays and he has hung in, so it is a hard one.”
“But, his work has been good, his attitude has got better and he looks great.”
Who’s Smokin again showed her excellent gate speed at Winton, which could be called on by Oliver Kite when she starts from her number three draw on Wednesday night.
“She seems well, we took a few down to Winton and she had a trial and I was happy with her,” Anderson said.
“She has got quite a nice draw, she will probably lead and be hard enough to beat.”
Another newcomer to the Anderson-Love stable steps out in race 2 in Lady Brae.
The six-year-old has not fired up in two career starts but delivered a more encouraging performance when third behind the promising Euro Beat at the Winton workouts.
“She actually didn’t trial too bad at Winton in quite a good heat.”
“She led and we didn’t pull the plugs.”
“It would have been nice to draw the front line because she has got a bit of gatespeed.”
“There are no promises there, her work has been good, but you don’t know what happens come race day.”
Ellie Barron also combines with Lady Brae, who has drawn barrier 1 on the second row.
