Tomorrow sees the running of the 64th Macca Lodge Kindergarten Stakes on the aptly named Young Quinn Raceway at Wyndham. Young Quinn won the 1972 edition of the two year old harness racing feature.
Favouritism for this yearās race is likely to be fought out between the Bob Butt trained Ukraine, (Captain Crunch) an impressive winner at Winton in February and Rubira (Always B Miki) trained by Mark and Nathan Purdon which also impressed in his win at Addington last week albeit against one rival when the other three horses were scratched.
Rubiraās winning time for the 1980 metres was 2-25.3 – a mile rate of 1-58.0. with the last half run in 56.2 seconds.
āThat race would have tightened him up for the Kindergarten. Heās quite a smart horse whoās got the all round game. Heās tough and fast,ā Nathan Purdon said.
Rubira will be driven by Blair Orange. Heāll be looking at extending his fine record in this race. Heās won previous Kindergartens driving Ohoka Arizona (2007), Itz Bettor To Win (2014), Flying Even Bettor (2019) and Akuta (2021). All his winners have been for the All Stars stable whoāve won ten of the last eleven editions of the Southland Classic.
Purdon labelled Ukraine as the horse to beat.
Since winning at Winton Ukraine has been back to the trials twice. He made ground from the back in his first trial at Rangiora for third before winning a two horse trial at Ashburton six days later by twenty lengths.
āHeās pretty good to go. It would have been good to get another race into him but there hasnāt been anything programmed for him. I took him to Ashburton last week and gave him a good hit out. It was an off track and he went two minutes home in 57. He wouldnāt have gone much quicker in a race,ā Butt said.
Ukraine gets a good draw at two for the 1609 metre juvenile feature.
āItās a great draw. In these sorts of races a good draw is a big advantage.ā
![Kindie up for grabs tomorrow 1](https://harnesslink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Ukraine-returning-at-Winton-1200-x-000.jpg)
Butt has seen all of his opposition race and says a win wonāt be easy.
āNathan (Williamson) and the Telferās (Steve and Amanda Telfer) one went well the other day and I was impressed with Regansā one (Coba Charged). Mark and Nathanās one looks pretty good. They wonāt be bringing it down to muck around.ā
The Butt family have a good record in this race. Bobās grandfather Robin trained City Rogue driven by Bobās father Davie to win in 2000 whilst Davie trained and drove Pentium to win in 1997 and drove Pay Me Christian to win in 2005.
Best of the local chances is the Nathan Williamson trained Always Dreaming (Bettorās Delight) whoās a full brother to 2022 winner Donāt Stop Dreaming.
![Kindie up for grabs tomorrow 2](https://harnesslink.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Always-Dreaming-1200-x-000.jpg)
Heās won both of his races with the second win a dead heat with rival Frano Ezra (Bettorās Delight).
āWeāve been trying to sharpen him up. Heās a pretty laid back fella. Thereās a couple of smart natural two year olds in there that might be pretty hard to beat but heāll be competitive. I think the Diamond Creek in about four weeks over 2200 metres will suit him better.ā
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink