By Brigette Solomon
South Auckland based driver Joshua Dickie has five drives tonight at Cambridge Raceway and is confident all can give strong performances.
Dickie’s first drive is on the Brian and Gareth Hughes trained Grace N Elegance who starts in Race one, the Watchu Security Mobile Trot over 2200 metres.
The five year old mare finished fourth here on the 20th June after being held up in the home straight. It wasn’t until the final 50 metres that she found clear running and let down with a strong run.
“She’s an honest horse who was quite unlucky last start, after being held up until late I was really happy with the way she hit the line,” says Dickie.
“It’s a good race for her tonight in the right grade and being off a mobile she starts off a level mark, I think she’s a good chance.”
In Race two, the Barrett Homes – Palisades Mobile Pace, Dickie drives Debrief, his first of three drives for employers Steve and Amanda Telfer.
“I like him, he’s a pretty smart colt, well bred and has a lovely attitude and I expect he’ll go a good race tonight although it’s his first start as a two-year-old against the older maidens,” says Dickie.
“A couple of his workouts may have just looked ok, but he’s since improved a lot and he’s shown enough speed off the gate to indicate he could go forward early if he needs to.”
The well-bred colt, by Captaintreacherous and out of Elle Mac, was a $270,000 purchase at the 2023 NZB Standardbred Yearling sale at Karaka.
Slots, also trained by Telfer/Telfer, is Dickie’s next drive in Race five, the Barrett Homes – Moorings Mobile Pace over 2700 metres.
The three-year-old colt has had two starts back this campaign at Alexandra Park, finishing back in the field on both occasions and failing to show the ability he displayed when winning at Cambridge back in January.
“His last two runs have been below par although I think he can be forgiven his fresh up run where he did a fair bit of work,” says Dickie, “he’s had some little issues and actually got down on his bumpers last week which may have worried him a bit, but he’s drawn nine this week which will suit him and allow him to have a run that can give him a bit of confidence.”
In Race six, the Betavet Buildagut Mobile Pace, Dickie drives Jubilee Rock for Telfer/Telfer.
The four-year-old mare, although only lightly raced, has failed to produce results after winning her maiden as a two year old at Ashburton. However, a change of scenery in shifting to the Telfer’s North Island base may prove beneficial.
“She’ll be interesting as her form is quite bad to be honest, but since her last run at Auckland her trackwork has been brilliant, running time and doing it well,” says Dickie.
“There are a couple of decent horses in the race, but I think she’ll go a cheeky race tonight.”
Dickie’s final drive of the night is Bad Medicine, starting in Race seven, the Dunstan Horsefeeds Mobile Pace over 2700 metres.
With four weeks between his previous two races, Bad Medicine finished fourth in a 2700 metre standing start race at Alexandra Park last week which was won by Coastal Babe.
“He’s a smart enough horse and trained by Arna Donnelly here at Cambridge he definitely has to be respected,” says Dickie.
“It’s an even enough field although Triple G having his first start in the North could be the one to beat.”
Racing action gets underway tonight with Race one at 5.10pm.
