White hoping for back-to-back wins

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Waikato horseman Matthew White is hoping Thee Old Bomb can make it back-to-back wins in the City Of Palmerston North Festival Cup (2500m) at Manawatu Raceway on Thursday.

The four-year-old gelding was rewarded for his consistency with victory at Alexandra Park earlier this month, having placed in five of his previous seven starts.

However, he didn’t come out of the run unscathed, having to be treated by a veterinarian following the race for a small wound the near fore fetlock.

White said the son of Sweet Lou has recovered well and is on song for Thursday’s test.

“He shied at the horse ambulance around the first corner last start and he struck himself on the back of the fetlock. It was nothing major and healed up in a few days,” White said.

“He hadn’t won a race in a wee while and had been running consistently and running in the money.

“He seems a bit stronger this time in and has been racing well.”

Thee Old Bomb will start behind the 10m tape and White is hopeful he will step away well at just his third start from a stand.

“Hopefully he can step well, he has only had the two stands,” White said.

“He stepped well the first time and then he didn’t step as well the second time around.

“We have worked on his manners and he seems pretty good. I am pretty confident he should go away.”

White is looking forward to Thursday’s race but is wary of his opposition.

“Bob Butt’s mare (A Taste Of Honey) won well yesterday and Rough And Ready is in great form. It is a pretty even field with plenty of quality,” he said.

White is also heading south with Mhai Thomie who will be first-up in the Manawatu ITM Mobile Pace (2000m).

“She is first-up and may need the run,” he said.

“Her workouts have improved and she does seem a little stronger this time in. Her work has been okay but being first-up she might be a bit vulnerable.”

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