by Jonny Turner
Jonny Cox hopes a sharp change of tack can have Folklore in the winner’s circle at Motukarara on Thursday.
The mare will revert to grass track racing and get behind the standing start tapes on the back of a more customary mobile sprint on Invercargill Cup Day.
Known for her sharp turn of foot, it has only been getting too far back in the field that has stopped Folklore from putting her hoof in the till this time in.
Cox hopes the mare can step away cleanly and put herself in a striking position in the Motukarara Christmas Cup.
“She bungled the start at Addington early on, but she can begin well.”
“I think on 10m, with having horses in front of her, it will help her get away.”
“She ran on well at Invercargill, but it was a slow middle half and as soon as that happened she wasn’t going to be able to win.”
“Hopefully it is a more truly run race on Thursday.”
“She hasn’t been on the grass much, but she ran second in a junior’s race for Mark Hurrell a while ago.”
“I can’t see the grass worrying her, so hopefully she can go a good race.”
Cox also drives both He’s Santa’s Excuse and Major Purchase who will both carry the 15 saddlecloth on Thursday.
Though clearly they both face tough tasks from their draws, both have produced good recent efforts.
“Major Purchase went super off the clock in his last start at Addington.”
“It is going to be tough for him and Santa, both drawing 15.
“Santa doesn’t mind doing a bit of work, so hopefully he can get into it at some stage.”
“They are going well enough to be thereabouts if they get a bit of luck.”
Lunar Rosa has impressed in her short career so far and she looks set to go another good race on Thursday.
The filly won over 2000m three starts ago and steps out over a similar trip in race 11.
“She is getting better and better all the time.”
“The other day I led up and went as slow as I could waiting for a trail but nothing came around.”
“Back to the sprint trip, if we can step away and maybe trail something she should be a good chance.”
Cox also drives the usually honest Betterwithbling in race 10.
“His first up run was a really good run, then he did some work over 2600m and faded late.”
“If he can stay handy from a good draw (2), he is usually consistent, so he should be an eachway chance.”
Cox also drives Reign in race 4, who looks one of his rougher chances.
