Kindie up for grabs tomorrow

Tomorrow sees the running of the 64^th 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 year’s 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.

Rubira’s 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.

“That race would have tightened him up for the Kindergarten. He’s quite a smart horse who’s got the all round game. He’s tough and fast,” Nathan Purdon said.

Rubira will be driven by Blair Orange. He’ll be looking at extending his fine record in this race. He’s 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 who’ve 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.

“He’s pretty good to go. It would have been good to get another race into him but there hasn’t 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 wouldn’t have gone much quicker in a race,” Butt said.

Ukraine gets a good draw at two for the 1609 metre juvenile feature.

“It’s a great draw. In these sorts of races a good draw is a big advantage.”

Butt has seen all of his opposition race and says a win won’t be easy.

“Nathan (Williamson) and the Telfer’s (Steve and Amanda Telfer) one went well the other day and I was impressed with Regans’ one (Coba Charged). Mark and Nathan’s one looks pretty good. They won’t be bringing it down to muck around.”

The Butt family have a good record in this race. Bob’s grandfather Robin trained City Rogue driven by Bob’s 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 (Bettor’s Delight) who’s a full brother to 2022 winner Don’t Stop Dreaming.

He’s won both of his races with the second win a dead heat with rival Frano Ezra (Bettor’s Delight).

“We’ve been trying to sharpen him up. He’s a pretty laid back fella. There’s a couple of smart natural two year olds in there that might be pretty hard to beat but he’ll be competitive. I think the Diamond Creek in about four weeks over 2200 metres will suit him better.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink