By Jonny Turner
Trent Yesberg’s three-strong team will attempt to take their excellent grass track form to Timaru’s all-weather track on Sunday.
Yesberg starts Kusanova (race 4), Missy Moo (race 10) and Dismara (race 11), who each paid a dividend at Motukarara last weekend.
Kusanova will be out to go one better than her narrow second placing behind Bettor Believe It.
The 5yr-old will wear sliding blinds and it is hoped they can help the her make the step in to the winner’s circle for the first time.
“There is a wee gear change there that I think will work the oracle,” Yesberg said.
“She has got the sliding blinds on and I think that will do the trick.”
“She got to the front too quickly last time and just got a little bit lost.”
“By the time the other horse got beside her she decided to fight it off, but it was a bit too late.”
“She is just one of those horses, at the moment, that when she is in the open she is a little bit lazy.”
Dismara will attempt to go two places better than his third behind Pro Surfer at Motukarara when he starts from barrier 6 in race 11.
The 7yr-old was a little unlucky in his last start when driver Mark Hurrell had to angle the horse several cart widths off the fence to find clear running.
“Mark said if he had got out a little bit earlier he would have gone pretty close to winning that race,” Yesberg said.
“He trained super [on Thursday], probably the best he has ever trained for me.”
“He has got a little bit of an awkward draw, and we are erring on the side of not using him early.”
“So, as long as he gets a nice trip he should be potent.”
“But, if he has to do any work he could be vulnerable.”
Missy Moo was a winner at Motukarara last weekend and will try to make it two in a row at Timaru in race 10.
To win, the trotter must overcome a 10m handicap in her 2600m assignment.
“I don’t think she will be too far away, the best thing about her is her manners,” Yesberg said.
“They usually puts her in the right spot, but the 10m handicap kind of negates that a little bit.”
“In saying that, she seems really well since her win and in the last couple of weeks she has just relaxed and gone to that next level like she was before her injuries.”
“So, she is definitely on the up, I don’t think she is any certainty.”
“But, I think she can run in the first four or five.”
Missy Moo’s last start victory completed her comeback from retirement in June of last year.
The 7yr-old injured a suspensory ligament in a race at Forbury Park and was retired, but was put back in work after failing to get in foal.
All three of Yesberg’s runners will be driven by Gavin Smith.
Smith is a driver to follow at Timaru with his quality book of eight drives.
One Over All (race 2) and Hayden Bromac (race 9) look two of his strongest winning chances among his drives outside of the Yesberg stable’s runners.
