By Jonny Turner
The All Stars stable is back and it is ready to make an impact at Addington on Sunday.
Trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen will line up their first runner since March when La Reina De Sur clashes with an exciting field of 2yr-olds trotters over 1980m.
Driver Tim Williams will handle the daughter of emerging trotting sire Father Patrick and former classy racemare Escapee when she attempts to repeat her debut win January.
The reinsman simply can’t wait to get back in All Stars colours.
Though, technically, he will have to wait a little longer as he will be wearing owner Trevor Casey’s silks on Sunday.
“From Sunday onwards it will be good to have the blue and silver colours on pretty regularly,” Williams said.
La Reina De Sur has made eight public appearances this season and Williams has not been behind her in any of them.
That is partially because Rasmussen has been working closely with the filly.
And the 2yr-old goes in to her second start with her trainer’s tick of approval.
“She is one that Natalie has done a lot with and she likes her,” Williams said.
“Natalie was really happy with her at the workouts earlier in the week, so it is a nice race for her to kick off in again.”
La Reina De Sur was third behind her stablemates Mexicana and Wanna Play With Me in her workout at Ashburton on Tuesday.
She has had one other post-lockdown workout, running second to Wanna Play With Me on the same track last week.
Royal Del is the only rival La Reina De Sur clashed with in her debut win.
Williams admits the filly is facing a big step up in class when clashing with Greg and Nina Hope’s trio of Franco Jorik, Summer Lovin and Eurokash and the talented Time Up A Hill.
“It is going to be a bit of a step up because that first win was almost a non-tote race,” Williams said.
“It is a nice field and it is probably going to be a different kind of race.”
Manners are the key to any 2yr-old trot and they appears to be La Reina De Sur’s strongpoint.
She was perfect in her Addington debut and has looked solid in her gait at home.
“Touch wood – that has been her, really – she has been pretty reliable.”
“She has had plenty of practice, being off the [home] place eight times, so that is going to stand her in good stead.”
La Reina De Sur was rated the $3.30 second favourite to win race 6 behind $2.80 favourite Eurokash.
Eurokash impressed when beating Franco Jorik, Summer Lovin and Time Up A Hill on debut at Addington two weeks ago.
Williams also drives Gotta Ticket (race 2), Missalyssa (race 5) and Donegal Carnbouy (race 7) at Addington on Sunday.
Gotta Ticket ran third first up at Addington and Williams expect him to be prominent again.
“From the good draw, so long as he is on the pace he should be in the mix,” Williams said.
Donegal Carnbouy was just over two lengths from Allandale when fifth at Addington last week and Williams thinks he is capable of improving on that placing
“He is in the right race and as long as things go his way he should be pretty competitive.”
Missalyssa could feature in race 5, but it depends on whether she brings her best manners.
“She is just a little bit hard to catch at the moment,” Williams said.
“When she won she was really good and she warmed up really good.”
“From the couple of drives on her it seems like how she warms up is how she races and you have to catch her in the right mood.”