By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Consistent pacer Le Pole Dancer will be seeking to break maiden ranks at Waterlea Raceway on Friday when she lines-up in the Marlborough Racing Club Mobile Pace (1850m).
The Margo Nyhan-trained four-year-old recaptured form last start when placing at Nelson on Sunday following an unplaced run on the first day of the circuit.
“I didn’t think she had much of a show on the first day,” Nyhan said. “While she came off four seconds, she drew awfully (8) and it was a super-hot field.
“She went well last start. She got a nice run and I thought she could run third or fourth in that field and she duly obliged with running third.”
Le Pole Dancer has drawn two on the second line on Friday and Nyhan is happy with that marble.
“That’s not a bad draw,” she said. “If the two horse goes forward she will be in the running line and won’t have to cover extra ground. Hopefully she can settle somewhere near the pace and she should be quite a good show.”
Le Pole Dancer boasts five runner-up performances from 12 starts and Nyhan is hoping she can shed her bridesmaids tag on Friday.
“She has been a slow learner,” Nyhan said. “But she has learnt a lot now so hopefully if she wins she is ready to take the step up to the next grade.
“She is getting the ringcraft and it would be great to get a win on the board with her.”
Stablemate Madeleine Stowe will by vying for back-to-back victories in the Masie’s Holdings Vineyard Handicap Trot (2400m) following her win at Nelson on Sunday.
“She went super,” Nyhan said. “I thought she was our best shot the whole trip. I told Pete (Davis) he was driving the wrong one because I thought she was a super shot.
“She is probably not as good on the grass and with the win she is going back 10m. She is super bright but it’s going to be tough with a 17-horse field.”
Madeleine Stowe will be joined by stablemate Overzelous, who will also start behind the 20m mark, and Nyhan said she too could be questionable on the grass surface.
“With 17 horses it is quite tough and she is probably not as good on the grass,” she said.
“There were only 12 originally nominated but they have had such good noms they have transferred quite a few over.
“She is well and is racing as good as she can, but she is not getting much luck at the moment.”
Her half-sister Far More Zealous will contest the Kiwiseed Trot (2400m) and Nyhan is advising punters to look elsewhere.
“Far More Zealous is a bit of a funny one,” she said. “We worked her with Madeleine Stowe yesterday (Wednesday) and she came off Madeleine Stow and just ran on by her.
“She has got super high speed, but she must have some wee niggle and we are working on a few things.
“We think she is quite a nice filly, but I wouldn’t be keen on backing her if I was having a bet.”
Nyhan will also line-up Owhatanight in the Coles & JT Best Contracting Mobile Pace (1850m) and Givemewhatineed in the Isabel Wines Mobile Pace (1850m).
“Owhatanight hasn’t drawn (14) great,” Nyhan said. “She looks like she might come into five on the second row, which isn’t a great draw.
“She is racing great. She has not long come off the unruly and she is still learning things and is a bit green.
“I would expect her to be running on at the finish.
“Givemewhatineed has been taking part in both days at Nelson. We have done a massive lot of gear changes for tomorrow, so fingers crossed. If he goes like he can, he would be a shot, but we are not trusting him that much at the moment.”
Nyhan has enjoyed her trip away to the top of the South Island and said it is a mini holiday of sorts for a lot of the harness racing community.
“It’s brilliant,” she said. “Johnny Dunn and Blair Orange come up with their families and camp up here. We stay in a motel because we are older. It is a great buzz around the track.
“This is the closest thing we get to a holiday, it’s great up here.”