Doody eyeing up more home track success at Manawatu today

By Jordyn Bublitz

Local trainer Stephen Doody is confident of repeat success at Manawatu's meeting today (Thursday).

His team was firing on around the Palmerton North track on Monday with two wins and a second placing.

Among his wins was Blue Chip Lou's victory in the Congratulations 500 Winners Stephen Doody Mobile Pace, a race aptly named in honour of her trainer’s career milestone achieved late last month. The four-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou made it a memorable occasion with a gutsy front-running win.

Andre Poutama went forward early, and then sat parked before taking over with 1400 metres to run. Despite getting a little wayward in the home straight, she showed determination to score by three-quarters of a length.

“It was bloody good,” said Doody, “she raced a bit green in the home straight but that’s what she does on her home track, she loves to run all over it. Andre said she did it very easy and felt really good.”

Now a four-race winner from 29 starts Blue Chip Lou will front up again today in Race 4, the Masonic Hotel Mobile Pace (3.11pm) and Doody is confident another good performance is on the cards.

“If she settles in the middle of the field and can follow something into the race I think she’ll be too good for them again.”

Another first day winner Jetasi will also be back in action in Race 6, the Book Your Xmas Function 11 December Mobile Pace (4.04pm) as will stablemate Jahi.

On Monday Jetasi broke through for her maiden victory in the Mr DG Mobile Pace. Driven confidently by Poutama the combo began smartly from barrier two and pressed on to take the early lead. From there, they were never headed, fending off several late challenges to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

“She was too good for them, but she has been a bit awkward really,” Doody said, “she didn’t try very hard in her other runs, just couldn’t finish it off, but to her credit she finished it off bloody good, it was great!”

Doody and Poutama nearly made it two from two in the next race when Jahi ran a brave second in the Blossom Lady Mobile Pace. The four-year-old Art Major gelding also used his gate speed to find the top, and for most of the race looked the one to beat. However, despite fighting hard in the run home, he was caught late by the Michael House-trained Enya Franco.

“He just races a wee bit greenly in front,” said Doody. “He didn’t really hit the line that strong but Andre said he was still going easy enough, just not trying his best.”

Doody will have five runners in today, with Blue Chip Lou, Jetasi, Jahi as well as the in-form Fear The Diva in Race 1, the Join the Turbos Syndicate Mobile Pace (1.35pm) and The Night Fox in Race 2, the Congratulations Emily Johnson Driving 100 Winners Pace (2.12pm).