Bits and Bridles

Coastal Babe (Downbytheseaside) will do her future racing in Australia.

Formerly trained by Steven Reid, Coastal Babe won five of her twelve starts and banked $263,642 for her owners who include Australian based Summit Bloodstock and Aaron Bain Racing.

Her major wins were in the Group One Caduceus Club Two Year Old Fillies Classic at Alexandra Park, the Harness Million Two Year Old Fillies Mobile Pace at Addington and the Harness Million Three Year Old Fillies Mobile Pace at Alexandra Park.

She was bought out of the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Auckland for $65,000 and had her last start at Alexandra Park in July.

Northern Southland Trotting Club will host the $25,000 Dancinginthedark M Southern Trotting Oaks at Ascot Park next Thursday.

The 2200 metre mobile is for three year old trotting fillies and past winners include Luby Lou, Swiss Miss, Tailored Elegance, Hidden Talent and Walkinonsunshine.

Oamaru trainer Phil Williamson is planning a three pronged attack on the feature with Black Pat, Torquay Street and Empire City, while his son Matthew will bring Princess Sadie south for the race.

Ashburton horseman John Morrison has also indicated that Fear And Faith will line up.

Hidden Talent (Bacardi Lindy) is back in serious work after showing disappointing form this spring.

“We found a few things (wrong) after we did bloods. We increased her work, trialled her and she came out of that with a bit of a cold. She had a cough and a snotty nose for a week. We backed off her, we’re stepping her back up and I’m very happy with her training,” trainer Nathan Williamson said.

The south’s new trotting feature for mares, the Group Three Dark Horse, is a possible target for the five year old. The race is named after her full-sister.

Hidden Talent will go to the Wyndham Workouts on Saturday along with Captains Mistress.

Meanwhile two year old Always Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) has had his raceday resumption delayed.

“He popped a splint and was a little bit sore on that. We had to give him a break mid-prep which set him back. The owners are fully aware that his future is ahead of him so we don’t need to rush him back. If he’s not ready for the Sires’ Stakes he’s not ready, so that’s how we’re playing it. We certainly think we can get him to the Aces,” trainer Nathan Williamson said.

In seven starts Always Dreaming has won twice, was placed second in the G1 Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic and ran third in the G2 Kindergarten Stakes.

He’s currently sitting in fourth place on the $100,000 Ace of Spades leaderboard.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink