Port Pegasus heads Norman's team

By Jonny Turner

Port Pegasus is at the right place to break his run of second placings at Ascot Park on Saturday.

The four-year-old will be out to secure a deserved win when he heads a team of eight starters from Brian Norman’s stable.

Port Pegasus was nailed late by Top Pocket Chance at Winton in his last outing after running second to his big brother Andy Hall at Ascot Park.

Like many of his followers, Norman thinks the trotter deserves a win in race 4.

With both of his career wins coming at Ascot Park and Saturday’s race looking a slight drop in grade for Port Pegasus he might just get it.

“He must win surely,” Norman said.

“He is going all sorts of good races, he can sprint enough and he can stay.”

“Though I think he has been outsprinted each time lately by something with a bit more instant speed.”

“Whereas, he keeps trucking.”

Norman also starts Jodeium in race 4 and the trainer thinks the four-year-old could give some cheek.

The trotter broke maidens nicely at Ascot Park two starts ago before galloping and being pulled up at Winton behind Top Pocket Chance.

“He is certainly not useless, Blair is sticking with him which is quite good.”

“He is quite a good stayer.”

Joedium beat home Velocity Jet in his Ascot Park win.

Velocity Jet looked set for victory before galloping late and throwing a likely victory away.

The four-year-old trotted well in a recent workout and his trainer thinks he can show better manners this time for driver Nathan Williamson.

“He had already passed Jodeium but he just lugged in for a stride and he couldn’t get balanced up again.”

“I quite like the horse and so does Nathan.”

Norman and Williamson combine with the consistent Whata Razzle Dazzle in race 9.

The pacer will be out to turn the tables on Doctor Tim who he ran second to at Winton last week.

“He is having some pretty good battles with Doctor Tim lately.”

“Whata Razzle Dazzle just loves racing, you could put the float door down and he would get on himself.”

“He should go another good race.”

Norman has contrasting types in race 2 in Sherwood Maggie and R U Watching.

Sherwood Maggie charged home from off the pace in her last start at Winton.

A repeat of that effort would have her highly competitive on Saturday.

“Sherwood Maggie has speed, whereas R U Watching is tougher and will keep going.”

“I would probably go with Sherwood Maggie as the better chance, just with her speed.”

Foxfire Easton also showed his speed when he ran second at Winton last week, too.

Norman hopes the three-year-old will be finishing over the top of his rivals in race 5.

“He will go back and have one run at them.”

“I think they could go for it early, hopefully the pace is on and he could come over top of them”

“He has got genuine speed.”

Warrior Easton is Norman’s only other runner at Ascot Park.

The trainer said the horse has ability but faces a big task first up in a strong maiden field.