Take two for Devenport duo at Manawatu

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Otaki trainer Wendy Devenport is eager to head to Manawatu Raceway on Thursday following the postponement of Tuesday’s meeting as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle.

She will take her entire race team of two to the Palmerston North track, headed by The Elite Athlete, who will have his fourth start for Devenport after joining her barn earlier this year. He has subsequently placed on two occasions, including last start at Hawera.

The Betting Line gelding will be having his first start at Manawatu Raceway in the Wenham Seeds Mobile Pace (2000m) and has drawn handy in gate two.

“He has been quite consistent,” Devenport said.

“He hasn’t had a start at Manawatu yet so that will be interesting, but the smaller track should suit him because he is a small horse.

“I have just been working on the grass and on the beach, so he hasn’t been to the hard tracks for six months.

“He ran at Addington when he was down south with Matt Purvis, so he should be okay.

“He is a happy horse and is doing well. He is tracking along nicely.”

Devenport will also line-up Uncle Drew in the Enjoy Retirement John Doody Mobile Pace (2000m).

The seven-year-old gelding won at Hawera earlier this month before he pulled a shoe at his last start, but Devenport said he has taken no ill-effects from that run.

“He did get held up and the shoe came out the front of his foot so I am not sure how he even finished that race,” she said.

He will return to the all-weather surface on Tuesday and Devenport said he will need all favours from his second-line draw.

“He has to have a run to suit him at Palmy. If he gets held up he can’t get going again that quickly,” she said.

“He prefers the grass, but he is well in himself.”