Resolve primed for Breeders’ Stakes

Fresh off returning from Melbourne, harness racing trainer John Dickie is looking forward to heading to Cambridge Raceway on Thursday (Jan. 26) with recent stable acquisition Resolve (Andover Hall).

The five-year-old mare has posted two Group successes in her last four starts and will be looking to add another in the Gr.3 Harcourts Waikato Trotting Breeders’ Stakes (2700m) this week.

It will be her second start for Dickie, and he is expecting an improved result after her stable debut at Alexandra Park where she tailed the field home after breaking at the start.

Dickie said she has come through the race well and he has been impressed with her work in the lead-up to Thursday’s outing.

“She is an amazing horse and came through that run without a blemish, as per usual,” Dickie said.

“It was just a bit of race night nerves and she got too far back. She is not a mare to come from last over 2200m.”

While confident with his mare, Dickie is wary of her opposition, which includes Group One winner Double Delight.

“It is quite a hard race on paper being off 40m, but this race is one of the reasons why Davey (Butt, co-owner) sent her up. The Greenlane Cup (Gr.3, 2700m) win on New Year’s Eve was a bit of a bonus.

“Tony’s (Herlihy) one (Double Delight) looks to be the hardest to beat on paper, but you have got to respect them all.”

Meanwhile, Dickie is set to return to Melbourne next week to oversee the final stages of Old Town Road’s preparation for the Gr.1 Hunter Cup (2760m) following his fifth placing in the Gr.1 Ballarat Pacing Cup (2710m) last Saturday.

“We were rapt with the run,” Dickie said. “I was over there last week and when Zac (Butcher, driver) came in he was full of praise for the horse.

“The work he did around the bend when Rock N Roll Doo stopped in front of him was amazing. He said by the time he turned for home they had 10 to 12 lengths on him.

“The pleasing thing about the run is that it was his first run since Show Day. He only had two-horse workouts leading into the race at Ballarat as the race at Cambridge was scrapped.

“He came through the run amazing. He had a quick blow but recovered within five minutes of racing. He has done terrifically well since. We are more than pleased.

“Josh (Dickie) is looking after him this week and then my partner and I are going over on Monday to spend the last week with him and take him to the Hunter Cup.”

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by Joshua Smith, for Harness News Desk