By Jonny Turner
Always Ticking heads north seeking due reward in the Group 3 Leonard Memorial Stakes at Addington on Sunday.
The Brett Gray trained filly brings exposed form to the fillies feature having produced two seconds to the smart Flying Ellie in her two career starts in Southland.
Only greenness has stopped Always Ticking doing better for her owners Robert and Sharon Symon, who purchased the filly out of Canterbury recently.
“Her greenness has cost her a little bit,” Gray said.
“When we bought her we knew that she was green but she seems to be sharpening up with the runs.”
“We have taken the blinds off and added the pull down blinds which we think should help her.”
“I have been happy with what she has done and she has come through that last run well.”
“She will have this race and then head to the paddock and hopefully come back better for it.”
Always Ticking gives punters the chance to follow exposed form while the remainder of the field has had just one start or less.
“It is hard knowing exactly what the rest of them are like, but our filly is well and I would like to think she would go a pretty good race,” Gray said.
Le Twist looks one of the best chances among Always Ticking’s rivals.
The Mark Jones trained filly starts from barrier 2 after winning her only trial.
Le Twist ($4) opened the second favourite for Sunday’s feature behind Always Ticking ($2.1)
Early money soon pushed Le Twist into $3.80 while Always Ticking drifted slightly to $2.20.
Third favourite Sporty Miss moved from $5.50 to $4.50 soon after the Leonard Memorial Stakes market opened.
The Ken Barron trained filly won the latest of her two trials at Ashburton recently.
The ever-consistent Heisenberg also gets his chance for due reward in Sunday’s Cheviot Cup.
The Robert and Jenna Dunn trained veteran again takes on Beach Ball following the pair filling a quinella at Addington early last month.
Beach Ball comes into the Cheviot Cup after running a solid third behind Bollinger in Friday night’s Group Three Autumn Pacing Free-For-All at Addington.
Beach Ball was rated the $5.50 second favourite at the opening of the Cheviot Cup Market.
Heisenberg opened the $3.20 favourite and quickly moved into $2.50.
Tim Williams drives both Heisenberg and Always Ticking.
