Telfers look to extend premiership lead

by Mike Love

Current training premiership leaders Steve and Amanda Telfer look set to edge a little further ahead on the leaderboard tonight at Addington raceway with seven runners across three races. 

“It’s been a really good run - long may it continue,” said co-trainer Amanda Telfer. 

In race one tonight, The Peninsular Beachfront Resort mobile pace over 1980m, driver Tim Williams links up with Miki Flybye ($1.55FF) for the first time under race conditions. The three year old Always B Miki gelding will need to overcome the unruly draw, but the small field of eight should assist. Telfer is confident of a good account. 

“He was off the unruly last start. His work is good, and his runs have been good. He just needs to pace all the way.

“He’s a nice horse on the improve.”

Moving onto race six the Garrards Horse & Hound handicap pace over 2600m the Telfer team line up two runners - Carbon ($10.00FF) with Nikita Burton, and C C Arden ($4.20FF) and Tim Williams. 

“It’s both their first stand starts tomorrow.” 

“Carbon is a consistent boy who’s always in the finish, and I don’t see that being any different tonight if he can negotiate the stand.

“C C Arden went really well last start. His work has been really nice, so the same as Carbon, if he can get the start right he should go quite good.”

Cheer The Captain ($23.00FF) and Akatea ($2.00FF) represent Stonewall Stud in race seven the Woodlands Winning Weanlings mobile pace over 1980m. Telfer believed that Cheer The Captain may feel the rise in class tonight, while Akatea just can’t put a hoof wrong at the moment. 

“It’s a big jump in class for Cheer The Captain, but he is a nice horse going forward. He’s progressive. So with a nice run he should hopefully measure up in this grade.” 

Their other runner Akatea is looking for four wins in a row, but draws the outside of the gate being the most tightly assessed runner in the field. 

“She’s being going great. I think she’ll have this run tonight, then the Silk Road final next week, after which she will go for a break before resuming in the spring.”

Terry Chmiel takes the drive on Cheer The Captain, with Tim Williams behind Akatea.

A chance to bookend the programme may arise with two strong chances in the final event, race nine the Gold Band Taxis mobile pace over 2600m.

Captain Christian ($8.00FF) for Terry Chmiel and Music Mistress ($2.80FF) with Tim Williams look set to give it a decent shake. 

“Captain Christian has been good this time back. He’s on the improve, and is just lightly raced. It’s a nice field but he should go alright.

“They will both be driven conservatively over the 2600m.”

The Telfer team also line up three runners at Alexandra Park tonight, namely;

• Race four - Beachbreak ($11.00FF)
• Race five - Turn O The Tide ($8.00FF)
• Race seven - Iron Heart ($8.50FF)

All runners will be driven by Josh Dickie.

Race one at Addington gets underway at 5:06pm, while Alexandra Park commences at 5:25pm.