NZ HARNESS NEWS
A late gallop in a Methven workout last weekend is hardly a confidence-instilling experience, but Ricky May knows full well that if the right Enghien turns up at Addington this week he will be awfully hard to beat.
May will sit behind last season’s 3YO Trotter of the Year in a star-studded feature trot at the meeting and will be holding his breath and crossing everything in the hope that the tough son of Love You brings his best game to the meeting.
“It’s just a case of him trotting the whole way, if we get that bit sorted we’ll be right,” May said.
As he was down in Invercargill last Saturday, May wasn’t onboard for the Methven workout where Enghien galloped 150 metres out from the post after leading throughout.
Co-trainer Greg Hope handled the steering duties and, while it wasn’t a terminal gallop, it was enough to stop his moment, but it was hard to tell if he tripped on a softening track or was up to his old tricks.
“He’s so well at the moment, that’s half the problem I think,” said May.
“They’ve changed a bit of his shoeing by the sounds of it so maybe that might make a bit of a difference.”
Enghien’s task won’t be as easy as just trotting the whole way however, with the lineup featuring big names like Speeding Spur, Bordeaux, Harriet Of Mot and Habibi Inta – so it is undoubtedly the rising star’s biggest test to date.
May’s not worried about the standing start though, which surprises him because he believed it would be one of the four-year-old’s toughest challenges this season.
“He’s been really good touch wood – there’s been no problems.”
May should have a part to play in two of the meeting’s other two features with the drive on Cullenburn in the Flying Stakes and also A G’s Whitesocks in the Free For All pace.
The latter was an impressive winner at the same Methven workouts last weekend
“He’s drawn one, I just hope we have enough speed to hold up and try and lead because he races well there.
“Mongolian Storm has a lot of gate speed and he’s drawn next to us, so it will be interesting.”
Cullenburn, who was a brave second last week fresh up, also will operate from a good draw but May has a decision to make.
With no second line behind him, he has the option to drop straight onto the back of Sheriff who has drawn the pole.
“It seems logical really, but I just wonder whether something might buzz out and try to get across him.
“A horse like Pat’s Delight could potentially do that.”
The Brendon Hill trained pacer, who finished third in the Sires’ Stakes Final on Cup Day, wouldn’t be the worst knockout hope in the race with a nice trail and a solid tempo.
- NZ Harness News
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