by Jonny Turner
Acento just needs a little luck to continue her excellent recent form at Addington on Sunday.
The three-year-old comes into race 9 on the back of a tidy win at Motukarara for trainer David Thompson.
It has been a case of win or bust in the luck department for the three-year-old this time in.
When fortune has favoured her, she has run in the top two.
When it has gone against her, like two starts ago when she was among a straggly score up, or four starts ago when she was held up by a tiring runner, things have gone pear-shaped.
From barrier two on the second row, the filly just needs a smooth passage to continue showing her potential.
“We have been thrilled with her,” Thompson said. “She just needs to be up on the gate at the start, at Ashburton the horse in front of her was a wee way off the gate and we got left behind it..”
“She went around and she was buggered early on.”
“Hopefully she can get away a bit better on Sunday and she can go another good race.”
Robbie Holmes takes the drive behind Acento, while Blair Orange will partner Ali Lindenny for Thompson in race 8.
The seven year-old has produced three good efforts this time in, only disappointing two starts ago when suffering from tie-up.
“She is coming along, she suffers from tie-up.”
“It is not easy, it is a terrible disease at times.”
“Two starts back she didn’t go so good the last 400m, we got her tested and sure enough she was tying up again.”
“We just monitor her and have to be so careful, because there is a lot of green grass around at the moment.”
Ali Lindenny ran second to the smart Resolve at Motukarara last week.
The performance is not only an important form reference, because the mare stepped nicely from the sometimes tricky barrier 1 draw – the same spot she will start from on Sunday.
Thompson also starts outside hope Sir Monty in race 5 at Addington. .
The three-year-old disappointed when leading up and tiring in the straight in his last start at Motukarara.
Prior to that Sir Monty had chased home smart All Stars maidens Queen Of Diamonds and Always Have Faith.
Thompson has applied sliding blinds to the pacer in the hope of an improved effort.
Blair Oranges drives the pacer who starts from a tough draw in barrier 9.