Katie’s Princess heads strong Chilcott team tonight

Cambridge harness racing trainer Nicky Chilcott has six runners engaged at tonight’s meeting including two newcomers to the stable from the South Island who start fresh up off the back of workout wins.

Showtym (Sweet Lou) has her first start for Chilcott in race three, the Tote Burger Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Mobile Pace over 2200 metres.

The three-year-old Sweet Lou filly was lightly raced in Canterbury when in the care of trainer Bob Butt for one placing from five starts. Since joining Chilcott’s stable she has been freshened and was a comfortable workout winner at Cambridge on December 7.

“I’m really happy with her and she’s continued to improve and work well since her workout,” says Chilcott, “she’s drawn four tonight and I’m hoping to go forward although her gate speed is a bit unknown as yet, but I think she’s a strong chance tonight and will be capable of being more than just a maiden winner.”

The stable lines up two runners in the Christmas Eve At The Raceway Mobile Pace with Messenger Buoy (2) driven by junior driver Leah Hibell, and Eyes To Heaven (5) driven by Chilcott.

With four placings and a win from his last six starts, Messenger Buoy has been racing consistently well but encountered bad luck in his last start at Alexandra Park when he raced wide early before being restrained to settle back in the field, and finally locking wheels with another runner in the home straight.

“He’s been racing great and just had no luck at all last start,” says Chilcott, “Leah will be going forward on him tonight, he’s got great gate speed and is a much better on pace runner.”

Eyes To Heaven is another South Island ex-pat and new addition to the Chilcott stable. Having spelled since last racing in May, the Sportswriter mare starts fresh up tonight with two workouts under her belt in preparation for tonight’s assignment.

“She’s another that’s continued to improve and went a terrific workout on Saturday with plenty left in the tank,” says Chilcott, “she doesn’t have gate speed, so I’ll be going back and looking for one run, she has a good turn of foot and provided she doesn’t get too far back she’s a chance.”

In race seven, the Slots On Sale For Night Of Champions Mobile Pace, Chilcott starts Katies Princess (2) and Says Who (6).

“I think Katies Princess is probably our best of the night and Leah (Hibell) can lead and win,” says Chilcott, “she made up good ground last start at Auckland, but she really likes being up front and should be able to get there tonight.”

The five-year-old mare started from barrier 10 in her last start at Alexandra Park and after getting back in running, made up a stack of ground to finish just 2.6 lengths from the winner and recording the fastest last 400 metres in the race.

“Says Who has been disappointing lately and really needs to drop back in grade to be competitive, so I’ll be going back on him tonight to see if that makes any difference.”

Chilcott also starts Vincents Girl (7) in Race two, the Dunstan Horsefeeds Battle Of The Breeds 17th Jan Mobile Pace for amateur drivers, with stable employee Kevin Hall to drive.

Of her six runners engaged tonight, four were bred and are raced by the late Alan Messenger and his wife Lyn who have been long time supporters of Chilcott throughout her training career. The Messenger family farewelled Alan, aged 88, last week in New Plymouth and continue his legacy in racing the horses he loved so much.

“Alan and Lyn have been loyal owners and have become special friends over the years,” says Chilcott, “over the years I’ve trained 14 individual winners for them, and it was also nice that in Alan’s last year we brought up their 50th win with Village Rebel who was one of his favourite horses.”

The Messenger’s four horses racing tonight are Vincents Girl, Katies Princess, Messenger Buoy and Says Who.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Brigette Solomon, for Harness Racing New Zealand