Southlanders head to Ashburton with high hopes

Southland harness racing trainers Jeremy Douglas, Chelsea Faithful, Peter Hunter, Lyndon Bond and Nathan Williamson will trek north to Ashburton for Sunday with hopes of snaring a victory or two and hopes of continuing the great run southern stables have had in the last month.

Douglas lines up Ten Da Touch (Downbytheseaside) in the first race and also has Always B Batman (Always B Miki) down to start in the $30,000 Rural Business Accounts Three Year Old Champion Stakes.

Ten Da Touch’s formline has been solid this season and he was running home nicely for seventh at his last start at Winton just over a week ago.

“He’s an honest wee toiler. He’s in the right grade and has got a nice draw. The owners live up there and it’s probably a winnable race for him,” Douglas said.

Last start winner Always B Batman faces strong company in the Three Year Old Champion Stakes.

“He’s continued to kick on. He copped a virus early in his campaign and it took him a while to get over that. He’s back to where he should be. I’m expecting a decent sort of a run this week and we’ll see how he measures up to the Canterbury ones.”

Faithful takes quality filly Ideal Crown (American Ideal) north for the $40,000 Group Three Helen Pope Two Year Old Fillies Classic.

She got knocked around at her last start at Addington and did well to recover to finish third in the Bionic Chance Bracelet.

“The plan was to turn her out after Addington. I gave her a couple of quiet jogs when she got home. She seemed to have handled the trip a lot better than I thought and has bounced through the other side really well,” Faithful said.

For Sunday’s Group feature, Ideal Crown has drawn the outside of the front row in the seven horse field.

“Every draw since her first start has been terrible. With all the better ones drawing one, three and five, it’s going to make it hard for her. Her work on Tuesday was super. The best it’s ever been and I was gutted to see that draw. I hope they run along a bit.”

Faithful says Ideal Crown will be turned out after her Ashburton run.

“She’s not paid up for anything (Sales Series). She a late foal (1^st January) so most of her rivals have two or three months growing on her.”

Ryal Bush trainer Peter Hunter floats Havtimetodream (Downbytheseaside) to Ashburton for the Helen Pope.

Her debut run for third behind Treacherous Me and Seaside Brucie was full of merit. After trailing the leader Treacherous Me, Hunter pulled Havtimetodream out from the trail.

“There wasn’t much pace in the race and Nathan’s horse (Treacherous Me) was quite lazy in front, so we had to get going,” Hunter said.

Havtimetodream is out of One Christian who’s left good performers Christianshavtime and Mighthavtime.

“She’s a neat and tidy horse that’s got a wee bit of gate speed. As we’ve progressed with this campaign she’s got better and better. This is a big task for her but with Brett Gray’s filly (Miki Deal) in the paddock and Canterbury needing our horses I thought we’d go.”

Hunter won the Helen Pope with Raklou (Sweet Lou) in 2023.

The hot Nathan Williamson stable heads north with four runners for the Kings Birthday weekend  meeting.

Diva Bee (Marcoola) was impressive on debut and faces a full field in the G&R Partnership Trot (R6).

“She’s a nice filly who did things right on debut. The idea is to give her a trip away. It is a big field so she’ll need to bring her manners again. I’m looking forward to giving her a wee break after this because she’s come a long way in one prep but she’s got the talent to run in the top four,” Williamson said.

The Branxholme trainer has Treacherous Me (Captaintreacherous) in the Helen Pope.

“This has always been her target. She’s got a couple of races under her belt. It wasn’t ideal the other day because she was pretty green in front and needed company to help her roll along. She got lost a bit out there but was still good enough to get the job done. With that sort of ringcraft under her belt hopefully she’ll be a bit better again.”

Always Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) was spotted powering home from the back at his last start and despite the draw (9) he should be a chance in the Three Year Old Champion Stakes.

“I’m happy with him. If you read the paper he finished eighth and maybe that he was a bit disappointing. I think he’ll sharpen up from that run because he may have been a bit underdone. He had a good blow afterwards and has trained quite well since. He’s got a wide draw again but he does possess good gate speed so we may have to chance our arm this week in that sort of field.”

Williamson rounds out his day with Simply Amazing (Bettor’s Delight) in the Rakaia Seed Cleaning New Zealand Sapling Stakes.

He debuted at Winton just over a week, running fourth.

“I was pleased with that run. He’s a lovely wee uncomplicated horse. It’ll be interesting to see how well he equips himself because it’s a big step up in grade for him and they’ll run along a bit.”

Mataura trainer Lyndon Bond has Stella Bay (Majestic Son) in the G&R Partnership Trot.

The five year old mare’s form has been good this time in.

“She just needed a spell last time in so we sent her away for a good spell for six months. The C1  (class) doesn’t seem to be holding down here (not enough to make up a race) so that’s why we decided to send her on a road trip to Ashburton,” Bond said.

He added that the bigger Ashburton track should suit Stella Bay.

“I think so. They’ll roll and she is one to get a bit keen and want to go. The faster they go the more it’ll suit her.”

Following Sunday’s race Stella Bay will stay in Canterbury to race.

“Our rewards (Rewards Series) down here are R35-R65 so it’s quite tough going on one win trotters. She’s gone up there for better opportunities.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink