By Mike Love
Blue September, the annual New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation fund-raiser, starts at Ashburton on Sunday.
Every time one of the Blue September ambassadors wins during the month money will go to the campaign thanks to contributions from Harness Racing New Zealand as well as individual clubs and sponsors.
Last year around $30,000 was raised, with hopes that will be surpassed this year.
Already $3000 is in the kitty already after three of the ambassadors, Blair Orange, Jonny Cox and Robbie Close did a sky dive in Auckland last Monday to kick off the campaign.
At Ashburton, Leeston trainer Chris McDowell trucks a team of three south, hopeful race tempo will bring his chances into play.
“The draws aren’t that great but they’ve been all going near enough,” said McDowell.
In Race 2, the A Team Construction Mobile Pace over 1700m Terror Ma Sue ($19.00FF) will kick off McDowell’s chances with leading junior driver Sam Thornley taking the drive. Drawn outside of the front line the five-year-old Terror To Love mare will be looking for luck, part of which relies on an even tempo. With the favoured runners drawn handily, including the warm favourite Carrera Bravo ($2.25FF) for local trainers Brent & Tim White, there may be that tempo.
“She’s got no early speed anyway so usually ends up toward the back and has run home really good a few times. It’s going to depend on whether the tempo is on or not and that will bring her right into it.”
The Viable Agriculture Mobile Pace for fillies and mares over 1700m is the seventh race on the card and will see Judgement Bay ($9.00FF) and Kyle Cameron fly the McDowell flag. Judgement Bay gets into the race pretty well with the ratings, however as a result lands the outside draw under the preferential barrier draw system.
“I was disappointed last start, but she hadn’t raced for a month and I think she was just a bit short. I’ve done a bit more with her in between.”
“It probably suits her to not burn early. It’s usually tempting to go forward early because she has such good gate speed but then she doesn’t really finish her races off as well. So although it’s a bad draw, it may actually suit her. She’s done a great job for us”
It’s arguably the most even betting race on the card with only one horse, the John McDermott-trained runner Ruby’s A Delight ($13.00FF), in double figures with race favourite Courtney Rose ($2.20FF) for Ross Houghton solid in the market.
McDowell believes his best chance is in Race 8, the Thanks For You Service Alan Neumann Mobile Pace over 1700m with Flo Motion. Despite the awkward draw of eight, McDowell is confident the seven-year-old Betterthancheddar mare will give punters a run for their money.
“She’s a tough girl. She never really gets a lot of luck in her races. She just keeps going. She loves doing it tough and just keeps trucking. She’ll get put into the race at some stage.”
“Flo Motion would be the best of the day – she’s gone some great races this time in.”
Flo Motion will be driven by Sam Thornley.
McDowell trains a team of 16 from his Leeston base with 62 wins and over $750k in stake earnings.
“I’ve got a bit of everything. I was doing a lot of breakers through the winter but with the sun out now I can get back into the racehorses.”
Racing commences from 12:15pm.
