Merlin "working great" ahead of Ashburton Flying Stakes today
By Michael Guerin
Merlin faces an old threat and a new one in the Ashburton Flying Stakes today but co-trainer Scott Phelan isn’t worried about either.
The northern star has been New Zealand’s best pacer this year and looks the biggest local threat to Aussie champion Leap To Fame in the $1m IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington in 15 days.
The latter confirmed his NZ trip with an effortless win at Menangle on Saturday night and now he is coming to the Cup it looks like only Merlin or arch rival Don’t Stop Dreaming could realistically defend New Zealand’s pacing honour.
They go head to head in today’s $60,000 Group 2 NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes and it is a rare standing start test for both of them as while they have had five standing start attempts between them and handled them well, neither has started on a full front line in a stand before.
Don’t Stop Dreaming’s three career standing starts have been off 15m and then twice off 20m handicaps while Merlin’s two career standing starts have both been off 20m handicaps.
Horses will usually handle being off a handicap in a standing start, with more room to move and horses to follow out, better than the more claustrophobic environment of being in a full front line of horses like both stars face today.
But Phelan, who trains Merlin with legend Barry Purdon, isn’t concerned.
“He is such a good pacer and so clean-gaited we are really confident he will be fine at the start,” says Phelan.
“And he is drawn out a little wider so hopefully won’t have to stand for too long.
“He is working great and we are really confident.”
While Team Merlin have huge respect for Don’t Stop Dreaming they have had the better of him this year, with Merlin looking to have strengthened more.
Don’t Stop Dreaming will have benefitted from his winter spell as he has a very busy start to 2024 and even if there is a length between them either way on ability the deciding factor could well be who steps better and gains tactical advantage.
The stable also have Cold Chisel and Mach Shard in the Flying Stakes, both being place chances but it would be a surprise to see them overturn the favourites, even though Mach Shard did it twice in the autumn.
The Purdon/Phelan team unleashed all sort of weapons at today’s huge meeting including what could be a very special juvenile filly in Youretheonethatiwant (R5, No.14) in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Sires' Stakes Heat.
She has been sizzling in the north but has a second line draw in a capacity field and Phelan warns he would prefer to drive her with one run, which means southern favourite Captains Mistress could get a fair way in front of her.
“I think she will kick home hard but I don’t want to be circumnavigating them in the middle stages. But she can still win,” he offers.
The stable also has Jeremiah (R7, No.7) and Better Knuckle Up (9) in the three-year-old Garrard's Sires' Stakes Sophomore Pace with Phelan unable to choose between the pair while earlier Confederate and Ultimate Racy Girl have at least place chances drawn to get good trailing runs.
Oscar headed for the front in Trotters' Sprint
By Michael Guerin
Both trainer and driver want to find out exactly where Oscar Bonavena is at in today’s $40,000 What The Hill Trotters Sprint at Ashburton.
So don’t be surprised to see the reigning Trotter of the Year given his chance in front in the Group 3.
The Sprint changed complexion on Friday when early favourite Muscle Mountain pulled out and since then all the money has been for the new sensation Bet N Win, who was $1.55 last night.
He is hard to go past after a series of dynamic sectionals in his comeback win and the trials that preceded it and he showed better than average gate speed when he racing on a fast front line at Albion Park in July, the last time he raced in a mobile.
So the White-trained trotter is the one to beat but co-trainer Nathan Purdon and new driver Blair Orange want to open Oscar Bonavena up early today and take no prisoners.
“He is working very well and while Dad (Mark) has driven him conservatively in his last two starts he is fit enough to be used this time,” says Nathan.
“I think he is right back to his best and I want to see him in front and if Bet N Win can come off his back and beat him then so be it.”
Orange is also keen on that plan, especially as the field lacks depth and he realises if Bet N Win gets an uncontested lead from the ace there may be no pressure.
The pair completely dominate the market and it is hard to think one of the two won’t win before they get ready for the far bigger challenge of taking on Just Believe come Cup week.
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