NZ HARNESS NEWS
Best Western is lucky she’s above average on ability, reckons her Pukekohe trainer Jeremy Young, because otherwise she’d be in the dog box.
He takes her up the Southern Motorway to Alexandra Park on Friday night hunting her first win of the season, the same trip he made with her last week.
Despite being a small filly, she packs a punch, as stablemate American Empress found out last week on said trip to the races.
“She started kicking the other horse when we hit traffic at ‘Tip Top corner’.
“I had to late scratch her when the leg swelled up and it’s cost me a couple of weeks.”
To make matters worse, Best Western settled one spot further back in the running that Young would have liked, eventually finishing second behind Aha Reaction.
The start before she got chopped out of a gap after tangling with Aha Reaction’s stablemate, Chevron Supreme.
“She’s had a little bit of bad luck; things haven’t really gone our way the last few weeks.
“I didn’t expect the field to be quite so strong this week, but I wanted to give her one more run before the last Sires Stakes heat (December 7).
“I’m aiming to get her in the Final on New Year’s Eve.
“If she’s running on well this week, I’ll be happy.”
Best Western opened at $15, the market dominated by the resuming Barry Purdon-trained sophomore, Supreme Dominator.
Another horse Young hopes to have in that final heat in a fortnight is The Stunning Nun, who debuts this week.
“Initially, work-wise, she was beneath Best Western, but she’s just gotten better and better.
“Every time she’s gone to the workouts, she’s gone a little better.
“There is nothing in that field that stands out, and I think from her good draw is probably my best each-way chance on the night.”
Bookies tend to agree with Young, listing her as a $5.50 third favourite when markets opened.
“I wouldn’t mind having a crack at the Sires heat and she’d probably want to go close to winning to justify that.”
Also having its first start for Young tomorrow night is Ozzy’s Nightmare, an Auckland Reactor three-year-old.
“He’s Cameron Mackie’s horse and was originally with Revell Douglas.
“But when Revell opted not to continue training, I got him after he had been broken in as a yearling.
“I think he’ll be better in six months’ time but has done a good job at the workouts recently.
“We’ll give him a couple starts and see where he’s at, but I think he’ll probably go out for a spell soon as he’ll benefit from that.”
Bookies opened Ozzy’s Nightmare a $9 fourth favourite behind another debutant, Our Sequel ($2.40).
Barry Purdon looks like having a good night with On The Cards an even-money favourite in the night’s feature pace, but Supreme Dominator and resuming filly Havtime also well-supported in their events.
- NZ Harness News
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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