An unusual harness racing week kicks off with the customary Cambridge meeting tonight, with the seven race programme starting at 5.10pm.
Winton will then swing into action on Thursday before Methven and Auckland replaces the normal Auckland-Addington double act on Friday. The meeting at Mt Harding will start at 3pm. Included in the races at Alexandra Park will be the latest $16,000 Northern Metro Trotters and Pacers heats before the $35,000 Finals on November 8. The latest Finals last Friday night saw a Crystal Hackett double with Magic Dash and Invisible.
Then attention will turn to Kaikoura for their two-day meeting. It will start with a Fast 10 meeting on Sunday and then the big Kaikoura Cup meeting on Monday, featuring the Group 2 Alabar Kaikoura Cup, the White Morph South Bay Trotters Cup and the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sale Series Handicap Pace.
Running alongside Kaikoura’s meeting on Monday will be Manawatu’s first November meeting, starting at 2pm.
Josh Dickie with many chances at Cambridge tonight
By Brigette Solomon
Auckland based driver Josh Dickie has a tidy book of drives at Cambridge Raceway tonight, and potentially a number of winning chances.
“My drives all look to be well placed in tonight’s fields and their form reads pretty well on paper,” says Dickie.
Four of those drives are for his employers Steve and Amanda Telfer and include talented trotters Joca’s Hill and Elizabeth Hill, the latter a tidy winner here last week.
“She really deserved that win last week,” says Dickie, “she’s a real sweetheart of a mare, she’s perfect to drive and doesn’t require any extra gear, and her manners are great.”
This week the four-year-old mare by What The Hill starts off a 10 metre handicap in Race 4, the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Handicap Trot over 2700 metres. While she’s yet to win over the 2700 metre journey, she has placed over the trip on two occasions indicating the longer trip will be no issue.
“It’s a similar enough field this week and she should go a good race again tonight, the 10 metre handicap isn’t likely to be an issue over the longer trip either.”
Joca’s Hill lines up in Race seven, the Christmas at the Raceway Handicap Trot over 2700 metres.
The four-year-old gelding has had just two starts this campaign earning a second placing when fresh up here on September 17. On that occasion he was run down in the final stages to be beaten a length, and no doubt would have improved in fitness for the run. The following week when back at Cambridge he broke on more than one occasion losing all chance. A winner of three races to date, Joca’s Hill has displayed moments of brilliance however his manners have let him down on several occasions.
“He’s not the punters friend but he does have a lot of ability and could easily go through the grades, but it will take some time to get him to that stage and he’s definitely worth giving the time,” says Dickie, “on his day he’s a great chance in this field but it just depends which version of him we get tonight.”
Dickie also partners two pacers for the Telfer partnership, the first of those being Carbon who starts in Race 3, the Melbourne Cup at The Clubhouse Mobile Pace.
Although the Bettor’s Delight gelding is still a maiden after 15 starts, he has placed on eight occasions and earnt some $17,000 in stakes. He starts tonight’s race from barrier seven and looks to meet somewhat easier company than he has in previous assignments.
“He’s due to win a race and this looks a winnable race for him tonight,” says Dickie, “he’s gone some good races but has been unlucky that he has run into a few good fields with standout maiden winners like Kings Watch who he finished fourth behind at one of his last Cambridge starts.”
In Race 6, the Off The Track Food And Bev Mobile Pace, Dickie drives Delightful Chic who he considers one of his better drives of the night.
“She’s been going really well but has had bad luck, twice she’s copped a flat tyre in races, and on more than one occasion she’s been held up in the run home,” says Dickie, “she was good at Alexandra Park a few weeks back, where although she finished last, she ran on really well in behind some smart fillies in a Nevele R Fillies Heat which was won by Duchess Megxit.”
“She’s got some high speed and is really knocking on the door for a win and is well placed tonight,” says Dickie “I think she’s a great chance.”
Tonight is the last of Cambridge Raceway’s Trot into Tuesday meetings for the year, with the clubs next meeting on November 15 including the Thames Trotters and Pacers Country Cups.
