By Michael Guerin
Trainer Steven Reid heads to Alexandra Park tonight expecting to win two races but hoping for three.
And while that level of confidence is rare for almost any trainer on a strong Friday night, Reid has winter’s magic formula on his side.
Every winter good two and three-year-old horses coming out of the classics and Jewels drop back into the grades and more often than not savage their inferior opponents.
Reid has a double helping of that tonight, with Utmost Delight (race five) and Star Galleria (race seven) having been players in the group ones this season so they pick themselves even from wide draws in their respective legs of Pick6.
Star Galleria struggled through autumn after looking like an equine jet in the spring but last start he led and smashed similar opposition to what he meets tonight.
“He felt back to his best last time and I think he should win again because he has the option of using his speed early or later,” says Reid.
Utmost Delight’s group one form is more recent, finishing third in Spanish Armada’s NZ Oaks before galloping at the Jewels.
“On form she has to be the one to beat,” admits Reid.
“I did take it easy on her after the Jewels and while I was happy with her at the workouts last Saturday she did come to the end of it in the last 100m.
“But that outing has really brought her on and she will be ready for this.” Utmost Delight has a clear performance edge on her rivals but the up to Rating68 race is very strong for that grade, with plenty of winter winners to come out of it.
While Reid is bursting with confidence with his three-year-olds, he is more hopeful with juvenile Rain Man in race one.
“He has shown good ability and the half blinds go on him but he might just be coming to the end of his campaign.”
While that race only contains six starters it is one of the highlight of the night, with both Aramis and King Of Swing looking potential Derby horses for next season if they build on their recent form.
As the harness racing season starts to wind down domestically — with Dexter Dunn’s record quest which continues at Blenheim today the main winter focus — there is still some serious NZ talent racing in Australia.
The best is NSW and NZ Derby winner Vincent, who faces a second line draw in the A$150,000 Breeders Challenge at Menangle on Sunday afternoon.
The meeting also hosts his juvenile stablemate Sicario and the big boys Lennytheshark and Hectorjayjay in the Len Smith Mile.
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