Conrad H freshened for Cambridge resumption

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Conrad H will head to Cambridge Raceway in a fresh state on Thursday and will bid to record back-to-back wins at the track in the Garrards Horse And Hound Handicap Trot (2200m).

The son of Love You broke through for his maiden win at the track in January and has benefited from a quick freshen-up ahead of his resumption this week.

“He got out of maidens last start, but he didn’t trot as well as he has done in that last run, but Zac (Butcher, driver) held him together,” trainer Derek Balle said.

“We gave him a week break and he has come back and had three workouts. He seems to be a bit bigger and stronger.

“Depending how quick they go he might need the run, but I was happy enough with his last two trials.”

Conrad H will begin from behind the 30m tape where he will be joined by stablemate Eye Love You.

“Eye Love You seems to be getting better all of the time,” Balle said.

“She is faring better left-handed and I have been happy with her runs. She was fourth last start and they went 2:50 off the front. She shouldn’t be too far away.”

In the following race, Balle is hopeful of a positive result with stable galloping pacemaker Baba Yaga.

“Babba Yaga has got a tough draw (7) in a quite a good field, but she has been racing honestly,” he said.

“She is the galloping pacemaker at home and she seems to be putting her best foot forward every time she goes to the races.

“She will probably go to Manawatu the following week, so if she can draw handy down there she shouldn’t be too far away.”

Balle rates Jaqueline Rose as the stable’s best chance of the meeting in the Hire A Venue At Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace (2200m).

“She has had a few little issues but I think she is better now,” Balle said. “She has had a couple of runs under her belt, so with that draw (1) I reckon she will be hard to beat.”

Balle’s Cambridge representation will be rounded out by Whitfield in the Night Of Champions Tickets On Sale Now Mobile Pace (2200m).

“We gave him a week off after that first run, he has come forward and is pacing better, and he is quite a nice horse,” Balle said.

“I think he will be in the first three or four.”