Several Aussie trotters make their NZ debut tonight

Trainer Michelle Wallis admits she and her new Australian trotters are still learning about each other.

But she is confident one of them can make a winning New Zealand harness racing debut at Alexandra Park tonight.

Wallis and husband Bernie Hackett have been sent a varied bunch of trotters from major Australian owner Pat Driscoll, most of them formerly trained by Anton Golino.

The Wallis/Hackett team have had to get to know their imports while they in turn have had to get used to right-handed Alexandra Park and their new training regimes.

“Some have settled in better than others and some are handling right handed better than others,” admits Wallis.

“But there are plenty of horses there in the right grade who can do a job.”

One of the most interesting is former Breeders Crown winner Val Thorens, who makes his New Zealand debut in Race 1, the Book at the Alex for Melbourne Cup Day Mobile Trot, on what is an all-sprint programme tonight.

“I know he won the Breeders Crown but that was as a two-year-old and he hasn’t won since so I would have preferred to see him in the maiden to one-win race later in the night,” says Wallis.

“It isn’t an easy starting point for him but obviously he has some ability.”

The stable has Break Free and Five O’Clock Gerry in that race but their better chances of success may lay later in the night.

They have American Muscle, Courmayeur and Queen Of Quebec in Race 3, the Lone Star Alexandra Park Mobile Trot, which looks a very strong race where the trotters could go 1:57 so luck in the running will be crucial.

“It is a tough race, Queen Of Quebec is still a work in progress while Courmayeur has a very wide draw so maybe American Muscle is our best chance in that.”

Their best hope comes in Race 9, the North Island Harness Awards Saturday 28 Sept Mobile Trot, which they will dominate the market with another Aussie newcomer Belle Neige and the improving Lil Whip.

“Belle Neige is a mare we really like,” says Wallis.

“She should have good gate speed and that might means she gets a better run than Lil Whip.

“So she might be our best chance of the night.”

Earlier in the night the Purdon/Phelan team should continue where they left off last Saturday with Duchess Megxit (R7, No.5) looking close to a good thing in her Nevele R Fillies Heat while they will dominate the market for the two-year-old trot, the IRT Sires’ Stakes 2YO Prelude.

They have both Higher Power (R4, No.3) and Meant To Be in that race and Meant To Be’s recovery after being checked into a break by his stablemate last start was enormous so if he trots all the way tonight he should atone.

For complete race entries, click here

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand