Fresh legs and familiar faces for Show Day

Show Day dishes up another day of high end harness racing with some horses backing up but others with fresh legs likely to add spice to the thirteen race programme.

Both Woodend Beach trainer Bob Butt and Southern horseman Nathan Williamson bring their best horses to the meeting with Bob gearing up The Lazarus Effect (Lazarus) in the last race and Williamson producing Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) in a fresh state for ‘The Velocity’.

Unfortunately Williamson has had to scratch Clotilde Wainwright and Always Dreaming from their Show Day engagements.

He says Clotilde Wainwright is not 100% and is not trotting squarely.

“I decided rather than going to Addington and risking anything, I’d take her home and try to get her right. Her main target is the Harness 5000,” Williamson said.

Always Dreaming has been scratched from the $50,0000 ‘The Velocity’.

“He worked good yesterday (Wednesday), but he seemed to be off colour, had a high heart rate and a poor recovery. He’s got an infection going on somewhere in his body. He’s been treated, and hopefully we can get him back up for next week’s Derby.”

In Race One – the XCM Sport Mobile Trot, Butt lines up talented trotter Tactical Bid (Tactical Landing).

“He’s just been getting things wrong lately in his races. I’ve changed a bit of shoeing with him and a bit of other gear and hopefully he turns up on the day. He’s got the ability to win the race. It’s a confidence thing. What happens is that he hits his knee and it just puts him off. Hopefully he can get round in one piece and show his true worth,” Butt said.

Trainer Williamson will drive Secret Agent Man (Sweet Lou) in Race Two, the Macca Lodge ‘Trained South of the Waitaki’ Mobile Pace. He raced on Cup Day finishing fourth.

“I was a wee bit disappointed with him. He was caught parked, was pretty brave and wasn’t that far away from them. He didn’t feel as sharp as he did at Ashburton but I think he’ll improve with that (Cup Day) run. With the benefit of that run he should be hard to beat.”

Gold Bullion (Father Patrick) takes his place for Butt in Race Seven – the Aldebaran Zeus and Aldebaran Park Handicap Trot.

He had no luck on Cup day.

“I was following Confessional and I thought he’d give me a good run into the straight but when they all came, he (Confessional) stopped on me which was a bit of a bugger. He was travelling good and was going to run in the money. I give him a good chance tomorrow actually.”

In Race Eight, the Bob McArdle Sires’ Stakes Southern Mares’ Classic, Bob lines up Dynasty (Rocknroll Hanover).

She was solid at Ashburton but gets an inside second row draw.

“It’s a shocking draw and she’ll need a lot of luck. She’s been going great races every week this time in. In her last couple of runs she’s had bad draws, so she’s ended up out the back. If she can get some (luck) they’ll know she’s there. It’s all in the lap of the gods because the one we’re following out (Times Are A Changin) is not too good.”

Williamson trains and drives Ruby Roe (Captaintreacherous) in the Southern Mares’ Classic.

She draws the outside of the front row.

“She’s out there for a reason because she’s the class runner in the field. It’s not her ability or fitness in question, it’s more about getting her in the right frame of mind to do the business. Since she’s been up here at Regan’s we’ve been working on things and she seems to be fairly focused. I’ve added a shadow roll back to her gear and put a wee overcheck bit in her mouth and changed her cropper around.”

In Race Nine – the Dunstan Sires’ Stakes Series Two Year Old Fillies Final, Nathan lines up Indulge Me (Downbytheseaside).

She draws one in the filly’s feature.

“I think it’s a good draw. I think she’ll get off the gate okay and hopefully hold a forward spot. She’s a talented filly and I think if they run along hard that will suit her because she’s a good follower of a good tempo.”

Butt drives Bet N Win (What The Hill) for David and Stacey White in the AZAP Electrical New Zealand Trotting Free For All.

The talented squaregaiter ran fifth in Tuesdays Dominion.

“I was pretty happy with his run. He didn’t have the ideal prep going into the Dominion. The best thing I took out of the race was that be trotted really well. Tomorrow he’s back to the short course (distance) which he’s good over. Whitey said he’s come through the run really well. If he brings his A game tomorrow, he’ll be a good chance.”

He draws nicely at barrier three.

“It’s a great draw for him. He showed in Aussie that he has a lot of gate speed. We’ll use the draw and see how we go.”

Race Eleven is the $500,000 Listed Hill Lee and Scott ‘The Velocity’ Mobile Pace and Williamson lines up Captains Mistress (Captaintreacherous) in the ten horse field.

Being a filly in the race she draws one. A massive draw advantage.

“I’ll get off the gate as good as I can and see how things are unfolding. Sitting behind Marketplace is the perfect scenario if it works out. She’s first up for a long time and I think she’ll benefit from the run but in saying that she’s pretty well and she’s as forward as I can have her without having a race. With that pressure and against the boys, it’s going to be hard.”

In Race Twelve the Allied Security New Zealand Pacing Free For All, Williamson has Dreams Are Free (Captaintreacherous) down to start.

“Look, it’s a bit of a step up and he’s been chucked in the deep end against some of those superstars. I’m real pleased with how he’s come forward. I was disappointed with him in a couple of starts prior to coming up here but he seems to have turned the corner. He’s well and has trimmed up nicely and he’s full of himself.”

He gets a good draw at three.

“That’s a good draw for him. He gets out of the gate good. It’s just whether we decide to put the foot down early or not. It depends on what the others are doing around us.”

Race Thirteen – Road Metals Mobile Pace, rounds out Show Day with Butt starting rising star, The Lazarus Effect (Lazarus).

“I put him in there to keep him ticking over for next week. He’s jumping out of his skin so we thought we’d give him a run tomorrow. He’s come up with a good draw and I couldn’t be happier with him. He’s got the draw over a lot of his main rivals.”

The race appears to be a match race between The Lazarus Effect and Arthur Shelby, both of whom have the $125,000 Group One Christian Cullen on their radar next week.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink