09 July 2015
By Duane Ranger
Al Bundy will be better than what he produced when finishing second behind One Over Da Moon at Alexandra Park a fortnight ago, according to his co-trainer Vaughan Blanchard.
The promising son of Great Success will line up in Friday’s richest race at ‘The Park’ – the $14,999 Hydro Flow Handicap for C3 to C7 trotters.
He will also do so with a new driver after David Butcher was hospitalised during the week after being injured while working with horses.
Butcher is expected to remain in hospital for up to two weeks before he is allowed to return home. Butcher’s son, Zac will take over the reins on Al Bundy this week.
“He was a sitting duck last time after doing some work. One Over Da Moon was always going to get over the top of them.
We respect every horse we line up against but there is no One Over Da Moon this week,” said Blanchard who trains the 5-year-old with his father Peter at Pukekohe.
They have been in partnership just over a month and have already trained three winners and placed seven times from 29 starters. Blanchard Jr rated Al Bundy the stable’s most promising standardbred who could line up in a Dominion or Rowe Cup one day. “We hold him in very high regard. He has trained on well and even from 20m behind he should be hard to beat.
There’s only 10 in the field and he’s developed into a real tradesman now. The standing starts are no longer a problem,” Blanchard said.
Even though he can win from anywhere, Blanchard would ideally love to see the bay gelding race with cover on Friday.
“I’d love to see him in the one-one, or one-out and two-back because he’s got a great sprint on him when saved for one run.
“Friday will be just his 14th start so he’s still learning and has plenty of untapped potential. I think he can win,” Blanchard said.
Al Bundy has now raced 13 times, for five wins, two seconds, three thirds, and banked $36,640 since finishing 10th on debut at Alexandra Park last July.
All five of those wins have been at ‘The Park’, including three over the distance. The Blanchards have two horses accepted for Friday’s meeting.
Then other is 5-year-old gelding, Acougarzson, who resumed from a five-month spell with a seventh of 10 here last Friday.
“He has improved from that run but he would have to do everything right and the race would have to be run to suit for him to go close in that race,” Blanchard said.
“He did win and place at the Workouts last month,” he added. Meanwhile in the two feature pacing events, Jet Black Shadow and Return To Sender could be tough to roll in races seven and nine respectively.
The latter was a certainty beaten after having trouble negotiating the final bend here last start, while the former was a nice winner at the Cambridge Workouts on Saturday. Jet Black Shadow and trainer Nicky Chilcott won the five-horse, C1 and faster trial by four lengths.
Harness Racing New Zealand
They paced the 2,200m mobile in 2:46.5 (mile rate 2:01.7) with final 800m and 400m sprints of 56 even and 26.8.
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