By Tayler Strong
Armori has an ideal opportunity at Forbury Park on Thursday night as a 4 win trotter racing against 1-2-win horses.
Armori (Race 3) was rated 46 in the new handicapping system which came into operation for the South Island on March 16.
Armori has gained her four wins at Forbury Park, the most recent in November. The 8-year-old mare has not raced since February 2 due to a muscular problem.
“She was tying up and not stretching out. I am hoping I have got it straightened out,’’ said Graeme McLay, her Brighton owner-trainer-driver.
Blinds may help Father Christmas lift his game in Race 7. The winner of nine races and twice successful at Forbury Park, Father Christmas, has been thereabouts in his recent races. He is off a 50m handicap, along with his stablemate Pyramid Magic, who has not raced since he won from 60m at Wyndham in November. Pyramid Magic was spelled after that win following a lengthy campaign. He has won trials at Oamaru, Washdyke and Ashburton in a fresh preparation with Phil Williamson.
Trainer Martin Denton is booked for his first race drive for two and a half years in the race to mark his birthday. Denton is driving the trotter whom he trains and part-owns, Och Aye The Noo. She was an upset winner at Forbury Park on March 9 when driven by Rory McIlwrick.
“I am driving mainly because it is my 65th birthday, the race is named after me and we are having a party,’’ said Denton.
He drove Och Aye The Noo in six of her early races. Denton last drove in a race in August, 2014 aboard the trotter Mum Beat Lyall. He drove Mum Beat Lyall to win at Forbury Park in 2010. Her dam, Sunny Action ended the 20 race winning streak of Lyell Creek when she won the 2000 New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All. Lyell Creek could only manage third with Sundon’s Way second. Lyell Creek won his next 13 races and 56 in all.
Racing is on a resurfaced track on Thursday. The sand surface of the track, about 10cm deep, was removed after the last meeting on March 9 and replaced due to wear.
“The special sand surface breaks down. We have had workouts on the refurbished track and it is good,’’ said Denton, a member of the board of management of the Forbury Park club.
He is shifting his training operation about 10km this week from East Taieri to Momona (near the Dunedin airport) where he is installing a track and stables.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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