By Josh Smith – Harness News Desk
Trainers Frank Cooney and Tate Hopkins are looking for more of the same from Betterbebetter when she lines-up in the Amber Garden Centre Mobile Pace (2200m) at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday.
The four-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight won first-up at Cambridge Sunday-week ago, which came as a pleasant surprise to her connections.
“I was really happy with last start’s run,” Hopkins said. “It surprised us a little bit with how much forward she was, but it was a good effort.
“She has trained on really well, I am really happy with her heading into the junior drivers race this week.”
Betterbebetter’s form tapered off towards the end of her last preparation, but Hopkins said she had a few excuses and he is confident of another bold showing on Thursday.
“She just had a few blood issues,” he said. “The break probably helped her. She was working well leading into the other night.
“I am pretty confident heading into Thursday, although she will need plenty of luck in the running (after drawing two on the second line). She is as well as she was the week before.”
The Taupaki trainers will also contest the Keith Pereira Concert July 3 @ Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace (2200m) with Cee Whatadelight.
The four-year-old mare finished fourth on debut at Cambridge Raceway last month and Hopkins is hoping she can put in a similar run on Thursday.
“It was a great run first-up, we were really happy with it,” he said. “She is going to need a bit of luck on Thursday night, but hopefully she can make some of that herself.”
Stablemate Eighteen Carat disappointed with her unplaced resuming run last month and Hopkins is expecting an improved performance in the Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Mobile Pace (2200m).
“She was a tad disappointing first-up,” Hopkins said. “She had been working well leading into it, but we are looking for an improved performance. She seems really bright and happy in her work.”
Hopkins has been pleased with the stable’s 10-win tally so far this season and said the COVID-19 enforced lockdown didn’t have a massive impact on the barn’s operation.
“It hasn’t panned out too bad, I am pretty happy with where we are at at the moment,” he said.
“We were lucky, it was business as usual for us because we have got our own track. The racehorses just had a few days off and we just kept ticking them over.
“We have got a nice crop of rising two-year-olds, so hopefully one of them steps up in the new season.” – Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
