Last throw of the dice for Old Town Road

Old Town Road (Bettor’s Delight) has started what’s being called his “last throw of the dice” at making the IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington on Tuesday November 12.

The six-year-old, the winner of 10 from 30 and nearly $500K in stakes, has recently transferred south from John Dickie’s Clevedon harness racing stables in South Auckland to Bob Butt at Woodend beach in Canterbury.

Dickie, who still part owns the pacer, says he felt there was no option but to try a beach-based regime because of the horse’s on-going injury problems.

“He’s not a sound horse,” Dickie says, “he’s always had an issue with his front fetlock which is controllable but it’s offloaded to his feet.”

“There were a lot of options but we have been friends with Davey and Cath and Bob (Butt) for many years and they have not only got the beach they have a water walker and a pool so we are having a last throw of the dice and here we go.”

After six weeks off and then four weeks jogging on the lead in the water, this week has seen him back in work proper.

“They put him in the cart today (Monday) first time and he was hobbled down the beach and he (Bob) said he couldn’t be more happy with him so we are quietly confident we can get him back.”

It’s now 15 weeks to the Cup and while Dickie crosses his fingers he is also very wary of the calibre of opposition that awaits if his star pacer does make the start line at Addington on Tuesday, November 12.

And top of the list is the Australian champion Leap To Fame, who’s now seen as a virtual certainty to be there.

“He’s the benchmark horse, it’ll take a bloody good horse to beat him if any.”

Dickie looked on in awe as the Grant Dixon-trained and driven superstar smashed his rivals in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park on Saturday night in a new track record, with a 1:52.8 mile rate for the 2680m trip.

“I think that was his best run, an amazing run, considering the time they ran,” says Dickie.

Dickie says it’s too early to plot Old Town Road’s course to the Cup, only saying that three or four races would be ideal.

“If he’s sound he can be a contender.”

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk