Otaki harness racing trainer Wendy Devenport is hoping she can take home a couple of cheques when she heads to Manawatu Raceway on Tuesday (Feb. 14).
The Elite Athlete (Betting Line) will have his fourth start for Devenport after joining her barn earlier this year where he has placed on two occasions, including last start at Hawera.
The Betting Line gelding will be having his first start at the Palmerston North track in the Wenham Seeds Mobile Pace (2000m) and has drawn handy in gate two.
āHe has been quite consistent,ā Devenport said.
āHe hasnāt had a start at Manawatu yet so that will be interesting, but the smaller track should suit him because he is a small horse.
āI have just been working on the grass and on the beach, so he hasnāt been to the hard tracks for six months.
āHe ran at Addington when he was down south with Matt Purvis, so he should be okay.
āHe is a happy horse and is doing well. He is tracking along nicely.ā
Devenport will also line-up Uncle Drew (Sir Lincoln) in the Enjoy Retirement John Doody Mobile Pace (2000m).
The seven-year-old gelding won at Hawera earlier this month before he pulled a shoe at his last start, but Devenport said he has taken no ill-effects from that run.
āHe did get held up and the shoe came out the front of his foot so I am not sure how he even finished that race,ā she said.
He will return to the all-weather surface on Tuesday and Devenport said he will need all favours from his second-line draw.
āHe has to have a run to suit him at Palmy. If he gets held up he canāt get going again that quickly,ā she said.
āHe prefers the grass, but he is well in himself.ā
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byĀ Joshua Smith,Ā for Harness News Desk