Dickie has big part to play on premier night

Clevedon trainer John Dickie has some key runners in harness racing feature races at Alexandra Park tomorrow night.

He has two runners in the $110,000 Group One Breckon Farms Northern Trotting Derby.

In last week’s Three Year Old Trotters Championship, Father Barry (Father Patrick) made ground late to get within three quarters of a length of Empire City.

“I thought he’d go well but I thought the lack of racing experience would count against him. But he went terrific. He just needs a bit more racing and he’ll be a genuine racehorse one day,” Dickie said.

Bolt For The Hill (What The Hill) lost a massive amount of ground at his last start and without too much space, ran home strongly at Cambridge.

“He had a couple of starts at two but now he’s actually matured a lot. He’s a maiden but he’s not the worst. It’s a shame he missed away at Cambridge because there’s no doubt he would have won. He’s not a silly horse, he’s just green and lacks a bit of ringcraft.”

Dickie has a good record in the Northern Trotting Derby, winning with Speeding Spur in 2015 and Paramount Gee Gee in 2011.

Old Town Road (Bettor’s Delight) gets his chance in the $250,000 Group One Trillian Trust Auckland Cup. He was powering home in the Roy Purdon Memorial finishing third and should be fitter for tomorrow night’s assignment.

“I’m extremely happy with him and he really needed the run last week. You seem to get him ready to race and something goes wrong. He’s worked well this week and his appetite has been terrific so fingers crossed.”

Dickie says the key to Old Town Road featuring in the finish is to get a better start.

“I think we’ll be fine. In the past he’s generally been alright.”

Old Town Road finished a close 5^th in last years Cup won by Akuta.

Bobby Boy (Sir Lincoln) completes Dickie’s night in Race Ten. The four year old has only been with John for six starts and he’s won twice and recorded three seconds.

“He’s a real trier. He raced well the other night. He lugged in just before the turn when Zac (Zachary Butcher) wanted to hook him out. He actually hit the line really good so he’s racing terrific and it’ll take a nice run to beat him.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink