Mantra Blue returns

Classy mare Mantra Blue (Sweet Lou) makes her harness racing return at Alexandra Park tomorrow night.

“It would have been ideal to get another one (workout) into her. Tomorrow night is going to be another trial but on race night. She’s there to win but she’ll probably be driven economically. It’s only a six horse field so it’s going to be a bit tactical. We’ll be hoping for a bit of luck” trainer Zachary Butcher said.

Mantra Blue last raced in the G1 New Zealand Oaks in December finishing second to Aardiebytheseaside and beaten by a nose.

Butcher had plans to race the mare in Brisbane last month, but they were scrapped when she encountered a few niggly issues.

“I couldn’t win with her. She kept getting sick on me. She had a bit of a weak immune system, so we’ve given her a few vitamins and things like that. It seems to have helped her and she’s back in the zone again just like she was around Cup week. She’s a horse that seems to go better when she’s happy. I don’t know if we’re going to go out there and breeze on by them because some of those horses are race hardened. Artisan has got gate speed and will probably find the front and rip home in 55 on the fence, so she’s going to be hard to catch.”

Mantra Blue has had two workouts to prepare her for the start of her four year old campaign finishing a close third in her last workout.

“She usually has removable deafeners on race day, but we had a hood on her to keep her quiet because she can get a wee bit geed up, especially when she’s fresh. I just wanted to keep her a wee bit more dead. I went a bit quicker than what the website (HRNZ) said. I went a 55 half and 26 quarter. Fresh up I thought that was pretty good going. She blew out over the last 100. It’s just building blocks because we have big plans for the end of the year.”

The rich Golden Gait Series in Auckland in December remain on her programme.

“There’s the Queen Of Hearts. It would be nice if we could clash against Millwood Nike. Hopefully Mark can get her there. It would be a pretty awesome race. There are also two $50,000 mares races up there which she’s eligible for. All exciting stuff really.”

Mantra Blue starts in Race Five, draws the inside of the second row and will be driven by junior driver Monika Ranger.

“It’s nice to hand the reins over to Monnie. She’s a huge help for me around the barn. It also works out well as it’s a penalty free win which is always nice to get, and it’s given her the experience of driving a nicer mare.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink