Todd and Butt stables players at the Met

Harness racing trainers Regan Todd and Bob Butt have some strong chances across the ten race card at Addington tomorrow night.

Todd lines up I’m Rockin (Johnny Rock) in the first. The three start maiden who will start off the unruly, powered home late at his last start.

“He’s one of those horses that’s always shown a bit of ability but he’s let us down a few times by galloping. He lost the plot last prep so we just turned him out and started again. He just has to have one more start from the unruly and then hopefully we’ll get him into a better draw. He’ll pick one up pretty quick. It’s only a small field on Friday so he’s good enough to run in the money again,” Todd said.

Oneroa (Bettor’s Delight) made ground on debut in a strong maiden race last week. She draws nicely at barrier three in Race Four over the 1980 metres.

“Quite happy with her. Probably of the ones that raced last week she’s trained on the best. That run last week has helped her confidence because she wasn’t the easiest horse to get gaited. Hopefully we’re on top of it now. She’ll give a good sight in that field I reckon.”

Louretta (Sweet Lou) will start in the same race. She made all the play at her last start before being nabbed by the swoopers. This week she has to be content with the outside gate but has good gate speed.

“I was a little bit disappointed because I thought she would have stuck on a bit better. To be fair we probably had her a bit pretty, so we’ve upped her work this week. It’s going to be hard from nine. We’ve sent her forward the last couple of times and you can only do that so much. If she can tuck in somewhere and they go hard that would suit her.”

In the first Nevele R Fillies Series heat (R5) Regan lines up Ruby Tuesday (Courage Under Fire). After running third on debut she ran a brave second to race rival Arden’s Memory at Ashburton.

“She’s a bit of a handful – a bit unruly and causes a few headaches round home by trying to put you into fences. She’s come a long way but it’s quite a nice field of fillies. We thought we’d give her a chance but she’s probably one of those one’s that’s looking for the paddock.”

Todd has two runners in Race Eight – Betterthancash (Art Major) and Tide And Time (Somebeachsomewhere).

Betterthancash (R55) has won his last two starts but faces his biggest test in a race catering for R54 – R70 horses.

“He’s one of those horses that have just jumped out of the box. He’s been a handy wee horse this prep. It just shows you what a bit of time does. He spent six months down at Macca Lodge up on the hills. He’s been quite impressive and is quite a speedy wee horse. He’s up in the rating band but you just have to race these ones to see where you’re at. If he can front up in the next couple of weeks we might look at some of those better three year old races like the Lazarus Stakes. In his last couple of races he’s done it on his ear and is just getting better and better.”

Tide And Time is resuming after last starting in May. He’s had one trial in which he led and was run down late.

“He’s a bit of a gate runner who likes to have his own way by just bowling along. Ideally being fresh up it would be good to try and tuck in behind if possible. He’s one of those ones who’s going to improve with racing.”

Todd labelled Oneroa as his best bet of the night.

Bob Butt kicks off his night at Addington in Race Two with Brando (Bettor’s Delight) and Bronson (Vincent).

Brando won on debut at Nelson before his formline dropped away. He trialled at Rangiora ten days ago beating stablemate Bronson by half a length, running his last 800 metres in 56.1.

“He trialled good the other day and was doing it really easily. He’s a horse I’ve always liked quite a bit. We took him up to Nelson and he went really well. He came back and got crook. So we gave him a good spell. I’m really happy with him,” Butt said.

Bronson also won on debut in May last year. He then ran third and fifth in Group company to finish his two year old season.

“He’s a nice horse but he’s probably a bit behind Brando. But he’s younger. He’s a nice horse going forward who will do a good job.”

Gold Bullion (Father Patrick) returns to the track in the XCM-Basil Dean Trotting FFA. He’s a two win trotter facing horses who have won nine races. He draws one and should be helped by the mobile.

“I was going to put him in a stand then I thought he was going to draw one behind the mobile and was ready to go so we put him in. He’s a pretty good horse that fella, so they’ll know he’s there. I still think he’s still probably another year away. We’ve just taken our time with him because he’s been weak.”

Xlendi (Somebeachsomewhere) lines up for Butt in Race Eight. He’s been away from the races since April. He’s had one workout at Rangiora finishing second to Charlie Brown, beaten by a neck.

“He trialled good. He’s got a lot of talent but just doesn’t know how to use it yet. He’s a big dumb bugger, he’s got the moto but he doesn’t know what he’s got under his bonnet yet.”

Butt labelled Brando as his best bet.

“He’s drawn one in his race. The other horses are in stronger fields.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink