Southerners ready for GP flag drop

Collectively, southern harness racing trainers have fourteen horses primed ready to run the Addington circuit this Sunday (Dec. 4) on Grand Prix Day.

Branxholme trainer Nathan Williamson has the largest team entered with Flying Without Wings (Pegasus Spur), Micaitlen Denario (Captaintreacherous), Hidden Talent (Bacardi Lindy), Rakamurph (Captaintreacherous) and Sandwave (Somebeachsomewhere) set for the big day.

Last start winner Flying Without Wings faces the talented Gold Bullion (Father Patrick) in the Ace of Clubs but is not without a chance.

“He’s come through that run well. He’s light on experience but he’s good enough to feature in the minor placings with a good run,” Williamson said.

Millwood Nike (Bettor’s Delight) is going to be super-hot favourite and hard to beat in the Ace of Diamonds, but southerner Micaitlen Denario does get a good draw (3) – just outside the favourite.

“She should be able to stay handy with that draw without doing too much work. There are some top fillies in the race so I’d be rapt if she could finish in the top half.”

The Williamson trained Hidden Talent will start one of the favourites in the New Zealand Trotting Derby after running second in the NZ Trotting Oaks.

“She’s come through that run well. She’s a talented filly who meets some smart ones but she’s in with a chance.”

Rakamurph fronts up in one of the hottest fields of the day in the Ace of Spades where he faces the Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen pair of Sherlock (Vincent) and Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight).

“He also gets a nice draw, and it gives him a chance of being a player. There are some nice ones in this race but if he got a nice run he wouldn’t be too far away.”

Sand Wave will be looking to turn his season around in the New Zealand Pacing Derby. He’s been out of sorts lately, so he’ll need to be at his best when facing Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) and Akuta (Bettor’s Delight).

“It wasn’t ideal last week. We’ve had tests done and nothing has showed up. He’s trained really well during the week and I can’t really fault him. We’ve changed a few things around with his diet and hopefully that’ll help bring him back into form.”

Williamson says Hidden Talent is his best chance on Sunday.

Brett Gray starts Betta Watch Out (He’s Watching) in the Ace of Diamonds and Joes Rock (Roll With Joe) in the New Zealand Oaks.

He says Betta Watch Out has really thrived since being in Canterbury.

“Her work has been really good this week. With the draw everything is against us that’s for sure. We’ll throw some half blinds on her this week,” Gray said.

At her last start Joes Rock ran third at Ascot Park.

“I was initially a bit disappointed with that run, but she was at the back, went wide and they went some good sectionals. Blair (Orange) was happy with that. She’ll love the hot tempo over the 2600 metres. If you can cuddle her up, she normally finds the line pretty good.”

Craig Ferguson has Da Vinci (Art Major) fronting up in the Ace of Spades for two year old pacing colts and geldings while Snow Robyn (Rock N Roll Heaven) is in the New Zealand Oaks.

Da Vinci has won his last three starts and he’s drawn (11) so could get a nice run behind Sherlock (1).

“I couldn’t be happier with the draw. I don’t think he’ll have to do any work and he’ll get a good suck along on the fence. You’d imagine by following Sherlock that he’s not going to get too far back. He’s come through his Timaru run well and his work’s been good,” Ferguson said.

was great in winning on Cup Day but just got too far back at her last start at Addington last week.

“Things really didn’t go her way but in saying that I thought she underperformed a bit. Since then she’s seems really well and her work’s been as good as it was leading into Cup Day so I’m happy with her. The draw’s not ideal. They’re going to go hard and it’s 2600 metres so we should be running on at the finish.”

Macca Lodge trainer Brent McIntyre starts Switch On (Bacardi Lindy) in the Ace of Clubs for two year old trotting colts and gelding.

“The two draws we wanted were either two on the front or two on the second line. We got two on the second row. We’re following out Tectonic (Majestic Son) who got checked and broke at his last start but he’s normally pretty good out of the gate. Barry and Scott’s horse (Halberg) could be looking for the top as well so there could be some fireworks. As we saw at Wyndham Switch On hasn’t got blistering speed but can run all day. If they go hard it’ll suit him,” stable foreman Bronson Munro said. Switch On will travel up to Christchurch from Wingatui on Friday.

Darryn Simpson lines up Show No Fear (Father Patrick) in the Ace of Hearts for two year old trotting fillies. In her six start career she has won twice and draws barrier six in Sunday’s juvenile feature.

“She was probably a bit below par last week and I think she may have caught a bug. In hindsight we should have stayed at home. She was in season as well which didn’t help but she’s bounced back, is a lot brighter and her work this morning (Thursday) was great. I think she’s right back to where she was before Ashburton. The draw doesn’t look too bad for her, so we’ll be looking to go forward,” Simpson said.

Phil Williamson’s Aroha Kenny (Love You) and Kenny’s Charm (Muscle Mass) also start in the Ace of Hearts while Majestic Man (Majestic Son) fronts up from barrier six in the Trotting Free for All.

Aroha Kenny has just returned from Australia after running eighth in the Breeders Crown Final for two year old fillies.

“It’s a big ask to do that much travel and race again with a two year old. She’s got a bit of quality about her, so we thought we’d have a throw at the stumps because it’s a $100,000 race. She’ll have this race and go out for a spell, Phil said. She seems well and if we’re lucky enough to get a good run I’d expect her to go a good race,” he added.

Kenny’s Charm ran second on debut at Ascot Park and Williamson says this is a steep rise in class for the young filly.

“She seems good. She’s a little frail horse. She’s nicely mannered, good gaited, has a little bit of speed but probably lacks ring craft for what we’re asking her to do but we need to support these young trotting fillies races.”

With favourite Muscle Mountain (Muscle Hill) drawn one Williamson says Majestic Man is up against it in the Trotting Free for All

“The draw is the niggly bit. He tends to over race a bit off the gate and if you want to slot in it’s not easy to do because he wants to run. He could be looking at being parked. I’m happy with him though but it’s just the draw.”

Phil rates Aroha Kenny as his best chance.

For complete Grand Prix Day fields, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink