Deceptive Lee leads Mitchell’s Reefton assault

Elgin harness racing trainer David Mitchell joins the party on the coast for the final day of the circuit today.

He takes three sound chances to the Reefton meeting, including Deceptive Lee in the feature, the $25,000 Rosco Contractors Reefton Cup over 2500m.

“He seems pretty forward,” said trainer David Mitchell.

Deceptive Lee has not raced since winning at Addington in September but has been to the workouts.

“His last workout at Methven was good and a bit of form has come out of that.”

It will be tough for the seven-year-old son of Captaintreacherous who’s off 20 metres and facing race-hardened horses like Teds Legacy, Westport Cup winner Hacksaw Ridge and second-day winner Smoke On The Water.

However, Deceptive Lee has won twice in a fresh state as well as winning once and placing once from three starts on the Reefton track.

“The small field negates his handicap a wee bit.”

To see the Reefton Cup field click here 

Race 3, the M S Moore Contracting Mobile Pace over 2450m, will see debutant Liberty Girl take her place. After qualifying in November she has since been back to the workouts a couple of times with her most recent effort suggesting she would be a strong top three chance.

“After she qualified I didn’t think we’d be here but she has progressed a lot and her last workout was promising.”

Liberty Girl begins from barrier two today and has shown genuine gate speed and should be able to get across early and secure an economical run.

“She may lack a bit of ringcraft but she’s travelled over here well.”

Resurgamas lines up in Race 4, the Paul Cutbush Memorial Pace over 2000m. The full brother to Lazarus is yet to win from five starts but is still progressing.

“He’s a bit 50/50 in the gait department. If he got away on even terms with them he should be thereabouts.”

After missing away from the stand it was a huge recovery to finish as close as he did last time at Oamaru, so manners will need to be present today.

“He got home well after making a mess of the start. When it all comes together for him he should win one or two.”

Junior driver Gemma Thornley will drive all three runners.

Race one gets underway at 12:18pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Mike Love, for Harness Racing New Zealand