Gale team primed for Otaki

Doug Gale is looking forward to heading to Otaki on Wednesday (Jan. 4) after a couple of pleasing harness racing results at Tauherenikau earlier in the week.

The Bulls trainer took three runners to the Wairarapa meeting on Monday and went home with two runner-up results, including Raging Whitebait (Raging Bull) in the Wairarapa Cup (2000m).

Gale has been pleased with the way the son of Raging Bull has come through the run and is confident he will put in another bold showing in the Assess It Otaki Cup (3000m) on Wednesday.

“I am happy with the way my three horses came through their races. They have all eaten up well, so I have got no issues there,” Gale said.

“Raging Whitebait usually backs-up, but it is a bit longer trip for him to go to Tauherenikau and back then just going to Palmerston North, but I don’t see any reason why he won’t race well again.

“He handled his first standing start well and if he handles his second one well, and can settle handy, then I would like to think he will be in the finish again.

“I don’t think the extra journey (3000m) will worry him either.”

Call Security also posted a runner-up result earlier in the week and will be vying to go one better in the Wallace Construction Mobile Pace (2000m).

“He fought well after doing a bit of work,” Gale said.

“He has been racing consistently, he has only been out of the money once in his last six or so starts.

“He has just got to deal with the outside of the front row. As long as he doesn’t have to do too much work, I would expect him to be thereabouts at the finish.”

While Clymenus was Gale’s only unplaced runner on Monday, he said the gelding has recently recovered from an infection and was luckless in his raceday return.

“He was unlucky on the home turn. He was travelling well at the time, according to the driver (Andre Poutama),” Gale said.

“He has had a bit of an infection that we picked up after his last race and I am hopeful that he properly over it. If he is, then he should back-up okay. There may be a chance though that he is a little flattened by the run.

“One on the second row, if there is not passing lane it might make it a little difficult.”

Whitebait Marg will head into the Life Members Mobile Pace (2000m) fresh after bypassing Tauherenikau and Gale is looking forward to seeing how she performs on the grass for the first time.

“She is a very honest filly that tries really hard,” he said. “As long as she handles the grass I would like to think she will be right in the finish.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Joshua Smith, for Harness News Desk