Four each way chances tonight for McKendry

It’s not a busy night by his usual standards but Maurice McKendry reckons he has four harness racing runners who can all figure prominently at Cambridge tonight.

Two of McKendry’s drives for the night are for Pukekohe-based trainer Ray Green, the first of those being Leo Lincoln (Art Major) in Race 2, the NZB Airfreight Mobile Pace over 1700 metres.

“He’s been racing pretty good lately and should be thereabouts,” says McKendry.

The three-year-old Art Major gelding has scored two of his three wins at Cambridge, although he is yet to score a win over the shorter distance. After scratchings, Leo Lincoln starts from barrier four tonight and meets tough competition in the Arna Donnelly-trained Irish Whispers (1) and Cran and Chrissy Dalgety’s Wallflower (5).

In Race three, the Betavet Buildagut Trot, McKendry partners the Sean McCaffrey-trained And Remember Me. The Andover Hall three-year-old filly placed second here over the same distance a fortnight ago, finishing less than a length from the winner Barsukov.

“She went well last start getting everything right and finishing the race off well,” says McKendry, “if she gets it right again tonight she should be a good chance.”

Next up for McKendry is Look To Da Stars, trained by Mark and Nathan Purdon in Race seven, the Watchu Security Trot over 2200 metres. A winner at Addington as a two year old, the gelding also raced in the juvenile feature races late last year however manners have let him down on occasion.

“I drove him at workouts at Pukekohe on Saturday and he was nice and secure in his gait,” says McKendry.

“It was a nice workout, and he should go a good race.”

It will be the Andover Hall gelding’s first race day appearance since December and no doubt time and maturity will have been of benefit.

My Copy, trained by Ray Green, is McKendry’s final drive of the night in race 9, the Off The Track Food And Bev Mobile Pace. The five-year-old gelding was a last start winner when driven by McKendry on Anzac Day, where after a cosy run in transit he was too good for opponents despite commencing a strong run home three wide run from the 500 metre mark.

“He went well last start and should go well again tonight,” says McKendry, “in all they all look well placed tonight.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Brigette Solomon, for Harness Racing New Zealand