Busy night at Addington and Auckland for Wallis-Hackett barn

By Michael Guerin

Three good trotters, three very different challenges.

That is the situation leading trainers of square-gaiters Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett find themselves in as their split their resources between both Alexandra Park and Addington tonight.

Hillbilly Blues makes his Addington debut looking for some hard racing to reach the fitness level needed for races ahead like the Renwick Farms Dominion Trot, kicking off in the R D Butt Canterbury Park Trotting Cup (9.08pm)tonight.

He is up against the same horses who have beaten him in his last two Alex Park starts, Higher Power and Meant To Be, and Wallis says it is a case of wanting consistent racing for the Group 1 winner.

“He had to be driven harder than he was probably ready for last start because they were going so slow but he blew out late,” she explains.

“So he will be fitter this week and I think he will be driven with cover and continue to improve.”

Hillbilly Blues faces a rare full front line standing start race, not something you don’t see much of at Alexandra Park, but Wallis thinks he will be okay and he will also have a new driver with Jim Curtin filling in for regular pilot Tony Herlihy tonight.

Further north the stable have three winning chances in the main trot on a short and sharp Alexandra Park programme with Illicit Love off 20m and Save A Prayer and Shesgold on the 10m mark over 2200m.

“It is a tough handicap for Illicit Love but he has earned it and even from back there he’d be the best of our three hopes,” says Wallis.

“He still has a bit to learn but we rate him an open class horse.”

Wallis will partner Save A Prayer herself and was impressed by his win two starts ago.

“He has really developed since last season and the trip away he had to Canterbury last year helped him grow up.

“But he faces a different sort of challenge this week as he is on the 10m mark with horses in front of him, alongside him and the 20m tape right behind him. 

“It will be interesting to see how he handles that but he has some real ability.”

Shesgold is always at least a place chance, especially over 2200m, while earlier in the night the stable has And Remember Me and Kamilla in Race 3.

“They both had a gallop last start but we think And Remember Me in particular should be better this week.”

Their trotting team is rounded out by Majestic Cracker who finds himself in a winnable race to open the night but will need to bring his best manners, which Wallis says is never guaranteed.