Hill takes two good chances to Addington

By Michael Guerin

Trainer Brendon Hill is both confident and cautious as he brings his two stable stars back to the Easter Saturday race meeting at Addington.

Because while Hill thinks both Cath (R6, No.4) and Arthur Shelby (R9, No.13) are the best horses in their respective races he says they face very different challenges.

They are both fresh up for this season after looking top class last campaign and return for the rare Addington day meeting on a Saturday, which also features unbeaten juvenile Tour Party and a host of “Rewards” races.

The meeting is a beauty for punters, who will find it on Trackside 2.

Both of Hill’s big names will attract a lot of support, starting with Cath in a small but select three-year-old pace, in which he also has Larissa Beaudiene.

“I actually don’t think there is much between them but Cath has been there, done that last season,” says Hill.

“She is a good filly and after this Saturday she will race again here in two weeks and then head north for the Oaks and Sires’ Stakes up at Alexandra Park.

“I think this is the start of a big campaign for her but it is still only that, a start.

“So I won’t be telling Seth (son and driver) he has to lead. Ultimately it will be up to him but in a small field even if she settles early she still won’t be far off them.”

Cath looked very ready for her return when she paced a 55.6 second last 800m sitting parked in a recent Rangiora trial, which was the second of two trials this prep so she is ready to go.

“If this was an Oaks or a Final then we’d be using her gate speed and expecting her to win a race like this but because we probably won’t be that aggressive then she could be vulnerable,” says Hill.

Especially as Cath is up against a couple of race-fit, smart male pacers in Sunsoutgunsout and Get Seaside Lucky so what happens early will be crucial.

Arthur Shelby won’t have as many options when he returns in a stacked R51-70 mobile 1980m in which he starts from the outside of the second line.

He looks an open class horse in the making and it is only because of niggly hoof issues that he is still racing here as he was all but sold to West Australia.

“He is a good horse,” says Hill, who is qualified to make that sort of statement.

“He has had some niggles and because of that he is still on his way up.

“From that draw he could go huge and still only run third but he is there to win and I will be telling Seth to not be scared to use him.”

The reality is that Arthur Shelby may have to sit parked outside some race hardened Team Dunn or Team Telfer horses and that is a brutally hard way to win in this grade so even his biggest fans could be wise to be careful today, especially up against Arma Hunter, Sacetas, Double Jeopardy and co.

The re-appearance of Tour Party (Race 4 - 3.03pm) is one of the most exciting parts of the meeting but the Rewards races will be just that for horses who probably won’t reach his career heights but have earned their shot at a good stake at Addington on a Saturday afternoon.

Of the Rewards races it is Race 10 (6.18pm) for the trotters that has the most depth with five or six starters who could make their way to the verge of open class in time.

To see Saturday's fields at Addington click here