Hat-trick on the cards for Kotare Rimu at Addington tonight

By Michael Guerin

Ross Houghton is kind of glad he doesn’t own his latest stable star.

Because if he did then Kotare Rimu would probably be sold rather than a hot favourite to make it three wins on end at Addington tonight.

The three-year-old has won his two starts since finishing fifth in Jumal’s Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington in May and has been $2.30 into $1.65 to win the Continental Event Hire Pace tonight (8.35pm).

Houghton has a great reputation for being able to find and educate young horses and then sell them but Kotare Rimu isn’t on the market. 

“He is owned by Tony and Gay Abell and Tony said to me he is 93 now so why would  he be selling a good horse,” smiles Houghton.

“They were offered good money for him last season and then even more when he won a few weeks ago but he is staying.”

Houghton expects the son of Always B Miki to be heading forward from barrier 3 tonight and thinks he should win again.

Houghton has moved from his former employer Dancingonmoonlight Farms and is now working from the property owned by Blair Orange with 15 horses in work, four of which he will take to Addington tonight.

Punters have already also jumped on debutante Dance Hall Girl (R2, No.6) even though she still has plenty to learn.

“She has only been off the property once and that was when she qualified in 3:2 (2400m) home in 57,” says Houghton.

“She has plenty of ability but is quite a big filly so we have given her time.

“I think she can win because she has real speed but I don’t see her going forward early because there is a bit of gate speed inside her so she will have to come from off the pace.”

Houghton has yet another talented three-year-old in Rosario in Race 3 (No.9) and he faces not only a poor draw but some handy, in-form opponents in what could be a good form race.

“He is going to win a race soon but again, from that draw, he is going to need some luck.”

He also has three-win trotter Florence The Machine in Race 6 and while he has no concerns about her form he does about her draw.

“Being on the unruly in a 2000m stand is hardly ideal so it won’t be easy for her.”

The TAB bookies are also predicting a good night for Team Telfer, with Rock N Roll Dude (R4), Transonic (R7) and Tact Teva (R10) all favourites for their races.