Lakelsa heads Todd’s weekend chances

Quality mare Lakelsa (Captaintreacherous) and Treacherous Gall (Captaintreacherous) lead Yaldhurst trainer Regan Todd’s assault on this weekend’s harness racing.

Both are resuming in the $20,000 Waitaki Hotel Kurow – Kurow Cup over 2600 metres and both are having their first start from the stand.

“She’s (Lakelsa) not real bombproof from the stand. She’s slow but safe,” Todd said.

Lakelsa was one the star mares last summer and her wins included the Group One New Zealand Breeders Stakes.

“Sunday is just a good race to start with. It’s going to give us a good bearing to see whether she’ll be able to start in other standing start races like some Country Cup races. She’s not eligible for the mare’s race on Cup Day because she’s won a Group One. There’s also that mare series starting on the 29^th.”

She last raced at the end of March and has had two trials to fit her for Sunday’s run.

Treacherous Gall campaigned in Australia last season before returning to win the Sires’ Stakes Fillies And Mares Classic in Auckland for Dylan and Jo Ferguson.

She’s since returned south to Todd’s stable and has had two trials in readiness for Sunday’s feature.

“The other mare is probably more forward fitness wise. She’s had a great spell and I’m really pleased with the way she’s come back. She seems back to her old self, is full of beans, has trialed up really well and her sectionals have been good. With the condition she’s in and being off 30 metres she’ll probably need to take a few shortcuts.”

Moose Morowski (Art Major) will also head south for the Kurow meeting and will run in Race Three. He’s been battling lately but gets a good draw at two.

“He’s been very disappointing in his last couple of starts. He’s going to be staying on with Amber Hoffman.”

Todd also lines up two runners at Addington tonight.

First starter Stumblin In (Always B Miki) starts in Race Two. The half-brother to Five Crowns has had three trials, winning his last at Rangiora. He’ll be handled by Blair Orange.

“He seems a nice wee horse who’s got good manners and a bit of speed which he can sustain. He’s still got a lot to learn but seems to have a bit of ability. We’ll get more of a line on him tonight. It’ll tell us whether he’s a Sires’ Stakes horse or whether he needs to be put aside. He’s one of those horses I’d definitely follow because he should get better. He just needs a bit of ringcraft.”

Five year old trotting mare Alderbaran Crystal (Father Patrick) has won two of her last four starts.

“She had a hard run last start and you can put a line through that. She’s a bit better if she can step away and stay handy without doing too much.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink