South Coast Arden on the improve

By Michael Guerin

NZ Free-For-All winner South Coast Arden is looking increasingly likely to be back for next week’s Flying Mile at Cambridge.

The outstanding pacer missed last Friday’s Messenger at Alexandra Park after trainer Brent Mangos found mucus in his throat on race morning.

The giant pacer has missed little work because of the setback and his endoscopic examinations are improving all the time.

“When I had him scoped last week it wasn’t bad, the vet said like a 3 out of 5 but by today (Thursday morning) it was like 1.5 out of 5,” Mangos told HRNZ.

“So he is definitely getting better and we had the hopples on him this morning and he will work again on Friday and Sunday.

“So things are looking up and the fact he has not missed much work means I am confident he will make next week.”

Next Thursday’s meeting will host $50,000 flying mile for both the pacers and trotters before Alexandra Park hosts the last two major races of the autumn for both gaits the following two Fridays, culminating in the Auckland and Rowe Cups on May 27.