By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Like a fine wine, Splash Cola is just getting better with age.
The 10-year-old daughter of Sundon will contest the Lamb & Hayward Mobile Trot (1980m) at Addington Raceway on Friday and while trainer Regan Todd isn’t expecting a lot from his charge first-up, he is hoping she can make a solid start to her preparation.
“She seems really good. She has been trialling up well, but will be in need of the run,” Todd said.
“She is as ready as she can be without a race, but it’s a pretty hot field on Friday.”
Splash Cola has drawn three in a small but select field of six, which includes Group One winner Enhance Your Calm, Group One performers Majestic Man and Heavyweight Hero, Group Three winner Pres The Belle, and stakes winner Ruthless Kayla.
Splash Cola has recorded 11 victories to date, with her career highlight coming in February this year when winning the Gr.3 Summer Trotting Free-For-All (1980m) at Addington Raceway.
She had been set to retire to the broodmare paddock last year, however, she missed to Father Patrick, which proved to be a blessing in disguise.
“She got served last year by Father Patrick and she missed because it got quite late,” Todd said. “If she did get in-foal we wouldn’t have had a New Zealand record or those last two wins, so it was probably a bit lucky.”
Todd has been pleased with the way she has returned and he is hoping to add to her stakes tally this spring.
“She went great at the start of the year,” he said. “She seems a lot happier horse now, so hopefully she can carry that form on this prep.
“There is another free-for-all in two weeks’ time and we will keep chipping away until Cup week.
“If she steps up and goes the way that she was we might aim her at a race like the Ashburton Trotters Flying Mile (Gr.3, 1609m). But we will just play it by ear.”
Todd will also line-up a trio of runners in the McMillan Equine Feeds Fillies & Mares Mobile Pace (1980m) on Friday.
“Canstar is fresh-up,” Todd said. “She did a good job last time in. She has got a good draw (3), so she should find the pylons from there and be a place chance.
“Gemma Mac was a bit disappointing last start, so she has had a bit of a freshen-up.
“Cheezel has been racing really well, she just hasn’t had much luck.”
Todd said his runners are hard to split, but he is leaning towards Cheezel as his stable’s best chance of the night.
“There’s not much between them all, but if you had to pick one, with race fitness it would have to be Cheezel,” he said.
