Déjà vu for Deja Blue

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Trainer Michael Cations will be hoping it won’t be déjà vu once again for Deja Blue when she races at Addington Raceeway on Friday night.

The consistent pacer has placed in nine of her 22 starts, including all six starts this preparation, and Cations has his fingers crossed she can finally breakthrough for her maiden win in the Lamb & Hayward Mobile Pace (1980m).

The five-year-old daughter of Mach Three has drawn the ace barrier on Friday and Cations said she should get an ideal trip from that position.

“She has got some gate speed, so she should find a handy position,” Cations said. “Terry (Chmiel, driver) knows here really well now and he drives her well. He will take advantage of that draw.”

Cations has been pleased with the way his mare has been performing and he expects her to be right in the finish once again.

“She is enjoying racing, is fit and well, and is jumping out of her skin. She is pretty professional in what she does,” he said.

“We are doing our best every week, we just come across a better horse on the day. It would be nice to get a win, she definitely deserves it.

“We are enjoying being competitive and it makes going to the races a lot more fun.

“I do expect her to win a race and she has run times where up a grade she would still be competitive.”

Cations said Deja Blue does suffer from a respiratory issue, but she hasn’t let that stop her.

“She has to wear the nose peg, she has got a wee breathing issue and come the business end (of races) that isn’t helping, but it’s not an excuse either. She does run the time,” Cations said.

“For a horse that has got a wee issue, she tries really hard and makes up for it.”

All going to plan, Deja Blue is set to back-up at Addington Raceway on Sunday in the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion Mobile Pace (1980m).

“She backs up and the draw (5) is favourable. She has been lucky in that respect, with front row draws all the time,” Cations said.

“If she comes through Friday okay, and I expect her to, I think she will perform well again on Sunday.

“She will then go out for 10 days and we will rebuild for later in the spring.”

Cations races Deja Blue with good friend Maclolm Shinn, for whom he used to assist several years ago.

“I bought her privately from Dennis Bennett. She went through the sales and never got a bid,” Cations said.

“Malcolm did a lot of the prep and broke her in and handed her back as a three-year-old and we went from there.”