By Tayler Strong
The return to racing under claiming conditions has Expresso Martini a standout at the Oamaru Harness Racing Club meeting on Wednesday.
Expresso Martini, the winner of nine races and assessed at C6 is competing against C1 to 3 horses in the mobile 2600m (race 10). He is in the field courtesy his $6000 price tag. The last time the Graeme Anderson-trained Expresso Martini raced under similar conditions was at Washdyke on November 19 when he won by five and a half lengths.
His stablemate Eamon Maguire will be all the rage in race 9. The 3-year-old winner of three races and second in his two other starts, has had the chance to freshen since he was runner up at Forbury Park on October 23.
Cable Beach, a fresh up winner in a smart 2.55.6 for 2400m (mobile) at Ashburton on December 26, could step up a grade in race 7. A Somebeachsomewhere 5-year-old entire trained by Paul Court, Cable Beach was having his first race for seven months. He won at Addington from five starts last season.
American Spirit, a good third last time out in the Roxburgh Cup, has been scratched from race 7. “He has just not come through his Roxburgh race as well as I would have liked so I will just back off him,’’ said his trainer Darryn Simpson.
Jonny Cox has taken over the training Prestine, who is to race at the Nelson meeting on Friday and Sunday. Bill Roberts, who has been training Prestine, fractured ribs in a training accident.
Prestine won first up at a Nelson meeting in June, 2014 when trained by Tim Butt. Prestine has been placed in her last three starts.
Mossdale Conner, who returned to winning form in the Roxburgh Cup on January 4, has the Invercargill Cup next on his programme.
The Greg and Nina Hope –trained Mossdale Conner will be handicapped on 30m for the $32,000 race over 3200m on January 28.He started from 40m in the Roxburgh Cup and added to his handicap at the start.
Stablemate Quite A Moment, winner of the group one National Trot on December 31 is booked on a flight to Melbourne on January 25. She has the Dullard Cup at Melton three days later followed by the Great Southern Star.
Quite A Moment has gained 10 or her 16 wins in Australia. She won the group three Lenin Free-For-All at Melton last February and finished third to Speeding Spur and Glenferrie Typhoon in the Great Southern Star.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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