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One of the country’s leading three year old trotters Empire City, (Volstead) is about to resume her three year old season with some lofty targets on her agenda including the newly launched $500,000 slot race The Ascent.
Trained by Phil Williamson, Empire City has won three of her five starts this term and ran third in her other two runs.
Her first target will be the $60,000 Group Two Macca Lodge Sires Stakes Three Year Old Fillies Classique at Addington on 20th September.
“Everything is going good with her. She’s a quality horse so everywhere she goes she’ll be hard to beat. She’ll probably go into the race fresh but that won’t matter to her because she’s got the quality to step into a nice race,” Williamson said.
Her main target will be The Ascent on Show Day for three year old trotters.
“That’s her main target because the winning stake for that is $210,000, I think. That’ll be her number one focus. I’ll bring her down to Southland for the Southland Trotting Oaks. I’ll probably bring Black Pat and Torquey Street. I’m sure some of the other fillies will come down and it’ll be nice to see the better young fillies go round.”
The Group One $140,000 New Zealand Trotting Oaks on the 29th November is also on her programme and possibly the $200,000 New Zealand Trotting Derby a week later.
“After that she’ll have three months off. After that I’m expecting we’ll see a beast of a horse. By then she’ll be getting close to free for all company so hopefully she’ll be able to foot it with the best. She’s the most promising horse I’ve got by a long way.”
Meanwhile 2023 Rowe Cup winner Love N The Port (Love You) is well into his preparation for the second half of the season.
“He could race next week or early September. I’m tempted to put him in the Basil Dean (23rd August) just to give him a run because it’s a 1980 metre mobile rather that going straight into a 2600 metre stand which seems like a tough way to start his campaign. He’s had a good prep and I’m really happy with him.”
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink
