Skinny Dippin one to watch at Ascot Park today

By Jonny Turner 

Kirstin Green hopes Thursday’s meeting at Ascot Park will be a stepping stone to better things for her smart filly Skinny Dippin.

The three-year-old will take a sharp step back in class when taking on maiden company in the Zilco Products Mobile Pace (5.38pm) after mixing it with Southland’s best two-year-olds late last year.

Skinny Dippin showed plenty of promise while looking like she had plenty to learn in those efforts.

Green has been working away behind the pacer since then and judging by her recent workouts she will return to racing a more refined product.

“She went great first up but in that second start she got keen when the other horses came up beside her.”

“I have had the mesh mask on her and I have added a nose flap to it and it seems to have made the difference.”

“She has high speed but unfortunately she is one of those ones that hates the grit.”

“I have driven her in behind at the workouts and she has been good.”

“I would have liked to have done that on Thursday, but after we drew one I would say we will be on the speed.”

Skinny Dippin is a $1.65 favourite.

The Orange Roughy, in Race 4, the Relay For Life Mobile Pace (6.03pm), is also among the strong team that Green starts at Ascot Park.

The pacer had little luck in his last visit to the track but still managed to hit the line nicely for fourth.

“He got out of the gate well last start and he was really tractable.”

“He should get his chance in that race.”

Spiritinthesky looks another strong hope for the Green barn in Race 7, the Apparel Master Trot (7.02pm), with 2200m around Ascot Park ideal for the mare.

“I drove her a bit quieter last start because she had gone a couple of average ones before that.”

“She was down on the inside and the winner got away on us around the turn.”

“She isn’t the easiest horse to drive because she can be lazy.”

“But she should be a good chance.”

Garonne and Shergar are in similar spots leading into the Ascot Park meeting.

Both are longtime maidens who are in form and capable of winning.

“Shergar should run his usual honest race, he is going to win one but I couldn’t tell you when.”

“Garonne is pretty much the same.”

“He is backing up from Sunday, but they only went slow and he seems well so it shouldn’t be a worry.”

Green also starts Bobbies Rock at Ascot Park on Thursday.

The pacer takes on a line-up he should be very competitive in after racing in much stronger races earlier in the summer.