Stonewall pacing stars join Cup race

Fitness may not be the key in the return of Stonewall Stud’s harness racing stars to the open class fray.

Trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer will step B D Joe (Roll With Joe) and Alta Wiseguy (Mach Three) out in the second New Zealand Cup qualifier of the spring – Friday night’s (Sep. 9) New Brighton Cup.

B D Joe returned to racing in style at Addington last week, showing perfect standing start manners to put away a middle-grade field.

Alta Wiseguy comes into Friday night’s feature fresh up, with Steve Telfer admitting B D Joe should have a fitness edge over him.

But when it comes to analysing how the New Brighton Cup may play out, it is advantage Alta Wiseguy.

“B D Joe probably has the fitness, but to counteract it he is off the unruly while the other guy is usually brilliantly away from a stand.”

“I would expect Alta Wiseguy to find himself in the first few once they settle down because his manners are usually very, very good.”

B D Joe hasn’t missed a beat in his standing start racing, including making a great beginning last week.

But a recent incident in a northern trial has meant the Telfer team have had to work on getting him away.

“He hasn’t missed away at the races, he was really safe but not fast.”

“But just at his second trial this time in and he just copped a bit of interference and that seemed to have panicked him.”

“He made a real meal of it at Rangiora after that.”

“He was probably ready to go for the Maurice Holmes Vase but we just kept him at home to give him a bit more practice.”

Alta Wiseguy comes into the New Brighton Cup fresh up but with many more trials than a typical open-class star has before their return.

After his brilliant summer, the four-year-old thrived during his time out, perhaps a little too much.

“He had a good spell over winter and he wintered really well,” Steve Telfer said.

“He probably took an extra trial to sharpen up, when he travelled down to Canterbury he took a few days to settle in, too.”
“But now he is as ready as we can have him without having a race.”

Proof of Alta Wiseguy’s readiness to return was very clear in his latest trial.

The four-year-old led up and zipped home to hold out Akuta in an impressive display.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand