By Michael Guerin
He may be anything but the finished product right-handed but Fernleigh Cash should still get away with it and win at Alexandra Park tonight.
That is the opinion of co-trainer Steve Telfer as the big pacer returns to Alexandra Park for the first time since his debut in September in race two tonight.
Fernleigh Cash has opened a $1.40 fixed odds favourite for what is not an imposing R41-51 over 2200m, his price indicative of the big reputation he has always had.
He won his debut on this track last spring but Telfer thought he was better left-handed so he was sent south to be aimed at the Futurity but while he was very good in two big seconds at Addington he didn’t actually race in the Futurity Final.
He returned north for an easy win at Cambridge last start and Telfer expects him to double up tonight even though the right-handed way of going is still not ideal.
“He is still getting his head around it,” admits Telfer.
“He is getting better all the time and the Alexandra Park thing is no big deal, he only wears a murphy blind, but he will keep getting better right-handed.
“While he isn’t perfect that way around yet I think he is a horse headed most of the way, if not all the way, to open class so I think he will win again.”
Telfer takes a small but handy team to the eight-race Alexandra Park meeting with Cya Doit another rated a good chance of going back-to-back in race five.
“He is a talented horse who is improving and I think Ben (Butcher, driver) has the options to lead and stay there or trail the right horse and still be as competitive either way.”
Telfer rates Upsize Me (race three) better than the maiden he meets tonight but says the little half brother to Triple Eight is still learning.
“He was a bit tricky last campaign and used to wear all sorts of gear but he has come back better and stronger so I am confident he will win his maiden pretty quickly but he has a tough draw in a nice enough field this Friday so I am not saying that win will come this week.” Telfer says one of the stable stars Alta Wiseguy will return north after starting in the Superstars at Addington on Friday night and join stablemate B D Joe in the spelling paddock after his super summer.
“I think it is a tough race for him this week and we are looking forward to them both spelling and coming back better horses in August.”
