Rakalou is a big chance in King Charles Coronation

Peter Hunter has been around horses long enough to know you don’t just show up in Canterbury and win.

On paper, the Southland harness racing trainer-driver’s two-year-old filly Rakalou (Sweet Lou) looks well capable of doing exactly that in the King Charles III Coronation 2YO Fillies Mobile at Rangiora on Sunday.

Rakalou could barely have been more impressive in her first start at the races.

After trialling well, she beat home several of her male rivals when running third behind the smart All Stars pairing of Vessem and Major Hot in the Group Two Diamond Creek Farm Stakes.

“I was happy with her run on Diamonds Day, it was a big step up from the trials and she went well,” Hunter said.

“I have been pleased with her since then.”

“We are sort of going into the unknown with this race.”

“She has had an eight hour float trip up there and she’s only ever been 40min from home before.”

“This race is about her having a trip away because she might have to do a bit of travelling in the future.”

“We don’t know a lot about the other fillies she is racing, but we are hoping she can go another good race.”

Bookmakers think Rakalou can back up her smart debut performance.

The filly was rated the $2.80 second favourite on market opening.

Stonewall Stud filly Aardie B Miki was rated the $2.50 favourite for the King Charles III Coronation 2YO Fillies Mobile.

Samantha Ottley combines with several eachway chances on the Rangiora card.

Among them are two promising types from the Mark Jones stable.

Though Eyre I Will looks more of a win play for those keen to take his $1.80 opening odds.

The Mark Jones trained three-year-old comes into race 4 after a nice win at the Rangiora trials.

“He has trialled nice, but he is still learning the ropes,” Ottley said.

“It is his first standing start because he has done all his racing in two-year-old mobiles.”

“If he can step away he should go a pretty good race.”

Ottley also combines with the Mark Jones trained What The Bell in race 2.

The three-year-old made a mistake in his debut, but Ottley is hopeful he can do things right in his second start.

“I would put a line through his first start.”

“He went to go a bit too fast, so we have taken the blinds off and put the sliding blinds on which should suit him.”

“He is still learning, but I don’t mind him either.”

Killarney Dance in race 9 also looks a strong chance for the Ottley-Jones combination.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand