Mr Putt on course for good showing at Cambridge tonight

By Jordyn Bublitz 

Tony Cameron makes the trip to Cambridge Raceway tonight with a compact but intriguing team of four for his employer Tony Herlihy, taking the reins behind three of them.

The night kicks off in Race 1, the To All Who Made Night Of Champions A Success Mobile Pace, where the stable lines up a mixed pair in Lucky As and Beach Blessing.

Lucky As, a four-year-old son of Captain Crunch, faces a tricky introduction from barrier 9, with junior driver Holly Moralde Sands aboard. 

Stablemate Beach Blessing, a three-year-old filly by Downbytheseaside, gets her chance to bounce back from an excusable debut, stepping out from barrier 11 with Cameron in the bike.

“She came through her debut pretty well, Tony said she just got herself a bit worked up and ended up undoing herself. We’ve changed a little bit of gear so we’ll be hoping for the best.

“We’ll put a line through her debut and go again tonight.”

Race 2 sees the enigmatic Travelin Soldier step out in the Charlie Hunter Our Patron Handicap Trot. The son of Majestic Son resumes from a 10m handicap over 2200m after breaking fresh-up at Ruakaka earlier this month.

A horse with undeniable ability but equally frustrating manners, Cameron admits he remains a work in progress.

“He’s got a lot of ability. He just needs to do things right. He seems quite immature and is a bit of a head scratcher at this stage.

“He’s definitely got the motor, we’ve just got to work on his head.”

The final runner for the team comes up in the Garrards Horse and Hound Mobile Pace, where last-start winner Mr Putt looks to build on his maiden success. The lightly-raced son of Lazarus has drawn ideally in barrier 3 and profiles as the most straightforward of the stable’s chances.

“He was good when he won his maiden up at Ruakaka last start, he’s a little gentleman and he always does everything right. It’s a bit of a step up in grade but I think he’ll be a professional. He’s quite a dude.”

With a mix of raw ability and untapped potential across the team, Cameron was clear when asked to single one out.

“My pick of the lot would have to be Mr Putt for Top 3. If Travelin Soldier is paying good money you’d have to allow him $5, because if he manages to get everything right he’d be going close.”