By Brigette Solomon
The country’s leading trainers, Steve and Amanda Telfer send two additional horses south for today’s feature races at Manawatu and stable driver Joshua Dickie is confident of their chances.
“There are several horses in our team that are capable of good performances but I’d say Joca’s Hill and Fernleigh Cash have strong claims,” says Dickie.
Joca’s Hill starts in Race one, the Marty & Di’s Catering Handicap Trot over 2500 metres. The gelding has had just seven starts for three wins, the most recent of those at Cambridge on March 7 where he was three wide over the last 600 metres and pulled away from Con Grazia Love to win by two and a quarter lengths.
“He will still need a bit of luck as he’s still learning his trade and is only lightly raced but I’ve been rapt with his behaviour to date,” says Dickie, “he’s a lovely horse with good speed and he I think he’ll have no trouble coming up through the grades.”
The gelding by What The Hill starts off a 20 metre handicap today.
In Race two, the Festival Night 28 March Palmerston North Cup Handicap Pace, Dickie drives Fernleigh Cash. The gelding won the Bay of Plenty Cup at Cambridge Raceway last week defeating Miki Shan and Bad Medicine.
“He pulled up really well from last week’s run but he’s off 30 metres today and New York Minute also warrants respect in this race,” says Dickie, “being a small field benefits us with the handicap and he’s been absolute humming in his races lately so I’m fairly confident.”
Of the stable’s other three starters, Dickie also expects another good performance from Molly Belwin in Race six, the Power Farming Mobile Pace.
“She’s a handy filly and finished strong for second place on Tuesday,” says Dickie, “she’s a handy filly and by all reports she’s come through the run well and I think she’s a great chance.”
Semba, who finished fourth on Tuesday, starts in Race seven, the Southern Rangitikei Vet Services Mobile Pace over 2500 metres.
“He needed the run on Tuesday but still went well enough and I think he will appreciate the extra distance as well as being better off from Tuesday’s run.”
Dickie also drives Grace N Elegance (R3), Sharkntatties (R4), No Added Sugar (R5), and Shirley Bassey (R8).
Team Telfer currently have 40 wins in 2024, 13 clear of Robert and Jenna Dunn.
