All the threes at Cambridge tonight

There’ll be plenty of inter-stable rivalry at Cambridge tonight (Jul. 6), with three different harness racing trainers lining up three runners in their respective races.

Nicky Chilcott has the most at the meeting with six runners, including three – Alwaysbelove (Always B Miki), Vincents Girl (Vincent), and Messenger Buoy (Sunshine Beach) – in Race 2, The Tote Burger Mobile Pace over 2200m.

“The maidens have all raced well to date and I’ll expect all three could be in the mix” says Chilcott.

Alwaysbelove was third on debut, while Vincents Girl was runner-up a fortnight ago.

All three have handy first row draws, with the Steven Reid – Simon McMullan barn also likely to attract plenty of support with Works For Me (Bettor’s Delight) and Carolina Moon (Mach Three).

Among Arna Donnelly’s five runners on the night three will line up in Race 7, the Dunstan Horse Feeds Mobile Pace over 1700m.

“Crusader has drawn 9 and could get a cosy trip, while New York Minute and Rough and Ready will appreciate the drop in grade.”

Though drawn a bit wide at seven Rough And Ready also has very good short course stats, having won once and placed twice in three starts over 1700m.

The Ray Green-trained Simply Sam and the in-form Montana D J look the pair to beat.

With six starters on the night, and with three in the one race are the father-son training partnership of Peter and Vaughan Blanchard, with True Story, Majestic Ruby and Ruby Ridge in the Betavet Handicap Trot over 2700m.

True Story comes into the race with two wins and a second from three starts this campaign.

“He needs to step away and get a spot. He’s pretty versatile and a good each way chance. He’s owned in Australia, so he’ll be here for a little bit until they put him on a plane. He’s thriving on racing,” Vaughan Blanchard told Harnesslink.

As for the other pair Majestic Ruby is “trotting really well and is pretty talented. Being off 20 metres is never easy, but I’d expect her to improve off her first start run” while Ruby Ridge will also start off 20m after losing all chance with a late gallop last start.

“We’d put lighter shoes on her and we felt that could have been the reason she broke. We’ve tampered with the shoeing and hoping that will rectify that.”

The powerful barn of Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan will bring three runners south, including Gandalf, who has had three seconds in a row, and must be a huge chance in race 4, the IRT.Your Horse.Our Passion Mobile Pace in a field that also includes the in-form Whooshka and another last start winner in You Little Beauty.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Brigette Solomon, for Harness Racing New Zealand