By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Tuesday could well be Josh Dickie’s time to shine at Manawatu.
The Raceway had new lights installed last week and they will be on show for the first time tonight and on Thursday.
Costing around $300,000 the project was planned and co-ordinated by Andrew Neal and local committee member/trainer Stephen Doody with funding from the club, the Racing Safety Fund and the Manawatu-based Central Energy Trust.
Dickie has seven drives on the day, six of them for his employer Stonewall Stud and trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer.
“I know all the horses back to front,” says Dickie, “by driving them in work you get a great feel. It’s a big help.”
“On paper it looks a good book but you always need a bit of luck.”
And Dickie thinks his “best of the day” could well be in the first, The Racing Again Thursday 1st May Mobile Pace (4.10pm) with Captains Secret.
“He’s a smart little horse who’s well suited to this race .. he looks the stand out.”
A one-race winner (from 8 starts), Captains Secret was eighth earlier this month in a Garrards Sires Stakes 3YO Semi Final against the likes of Bettors Anvil, Greased Lightnin and Got The Chocolates.
Consequently he opened a $2.30 favourite for his Palmerston North debut.
Next up is Cyamate, who is fresh up since his fourth on debut at Cambridge last May, in Race 2, Happy Birthday Melissa Lammas Mobile Pace.
“He’s come back good, he trialled at Puke (Pukekohe) a week or two ago out of grade and he did a bit of work and got tired late.”
He’s drawn six in the seven-horse field.
“He’s better suited off the speed so drawing out is not a bad thing. He looks well-placed there too.”
Delightful Chic is another fresh-up runner for the Telfers in Race 3, the Mike and Cleone Lyons Mobile Pace. She’s won twice, the most recently at Manawatu in November.
“She’s a handy filly and has high speed,” says Dickie, “she has a good furlong in her and if you can use that at the right time is the key to her I think.”
With three seconds in his last three starts, Iron Brigade looks another big hope in Race 4, the Bright New Lights Country Cup Handicap Pace.
“You can’t fault that form line.”
“In the last stand he was second to The Surfer – he’s just thriving at the moment.”
“He’s a top two chance who can win.”
In Race 7 Dickie partners up with Heavenly Belle in Race 7, the Tracy Cadwaller Stables Handicap Trot. It’s just her second start after a fifth on debut.
“She hasn’t had a trial but has had some solid work at home so fitness shouldn’t be a problem.”
“She usually has good manners and likes to bowl along which could make it tough for those off 30 (metres).”
On debut in the last, Race 8 (7.33pm) is S S Guppy in the Thanks Kids Kartz Mobile Pace.
“He’s a little bit green but has a nice draw and it is a winnable race.”
A Captain Crunch three-year-old, he was a $46,000 purchase at the 2022 National Standardbred Weanling sale
And if you are curious about the name, SS Guppy is the ship and home to Cap’n Crunch and his crew. The ship features in many of the commercials and merchandise for the Cap’n Crunch range of breakfast cereals.
