By Jonny Turner
Spring must be right around the corner with more big guns to be rolled out at Addington on Friday night.
In the pacing ranks Allamericanlover and Anything Goes both return to racing while age-group trotting star Mystic Max will take his first step towards the Dominion.
Allamericanlover will step out alongside her stablemate Aardie’s Express in the National Handicap.
While Aardie Express has the benefit of race fitness after having one run back, trainer Amanda Telfer has warned Allamericanlover isn’t far behind her.
“Allamericanlover’s last trial was pretty good, she is a mare that doesn’t carry a lot of weight and she is one that is naturally leaner and more forward,” Telfer said.
“She seems to have come back really well, we have been very happy with her.”
While Allamericanlover is an old hand when it comes to standing starts, Aardie’s Express isn’t.
But she pleased the Telfer camp when getting away safely in her strong first up second behind American Me.
“We are hoping she will be able to improve with that run,” Telfer said.
“She has trained on really well since then.”
“She wasn’t quick away first up but she was nice and casual and got away safely.”
“I think she is one that will get quicker at it the more she does it.”
Aardie’s Express gets a head start on her stablemate from her 20m handicap with Allamericanlover back on the backmark of 30m.
Aardie’s Express opened the $1.60 fixed odds favourite for the National Handicap, with Allamericanlover rated at $6.
Trainer Michael Purdon hopes Mystic Max can take a step towards the Dominion in Friday night’s feature trot.
A 10m handicap looks very workable for the talented four-year-old who is fresh up since May.
“I was happy enough with the 10m, I was quite surprised that he wasn’t off 20m,” Purdon said.
“With the small field he should settle close enough to them that he should be able to sit in and have the last shot at them.”
“He is a horse that has always run good races when he has had a nice trip.”
“I was happy with his trial the other day so he should be forward enough to run a nice race.”
Purdon plans to race Mystic Max over the coming weeks before assessing whether the trotter is on track for a tilt at the Dominion.
“He only had three weeks off, he didn’t have much luck last campaign.”
“I thought I would get him up early and have a go at a few of the early trotting free-for-alls.”
“We will see how he is placed and whether he can head towards the Dominion.”
“Hopefully he can get his ranking up and we can make a bit of a plan closer to the time if he is going well enough.”
