By Jonny Turner
Tom Kilkelly and Kirstin Barclay take the best kind of form to tonight’s Addington premier meeting at Addington after a successful day out at Winton yesterday.
Kilkelly enjoyed success as an owner when Smokin Bandar returned to racing in brilliant style, with a professional victory.
Barclay was in the winner’s circle just one race later when rating Tommy Waterhouse perfectly in front for a training and driving win in race 6.
Smokin Bandar showed how well had come up in his new preparation with an eye-catching win in a workout ahead of yesterday’s feature trot.
Known more as a mobile specialist, the trotter was able to show his true worth with a faultless trotting display for trainer-driver Craig Ferguson.
“We were rapt, Craig has done such a great job with this horse,” Kilkelly said.
“He is such a great guy we are rapt that he was able to get the win.”
“We have had a heap of fun with this horse.”
Smokin Bandar is no stranger to racing at Addington and it is possible the trotter could join horses like Chuckes, who is also raced by Kilkelly, at the New Zealand Cup Carnival.
“I said to Craig and Kirstin, we have a few horses that are going alright at the moment and I’d like them to be ready for Kaikoura and then Addington.”
“Kaikoura is gone, but we are hoping horses like him, Chuckles and Carlos can make it to Addington.”
Many will know Carlos is the stable name of U May Cullect.
The popular pacer takes his first step towards the New Zealand Cup at Addington tonight, taking on favourites Self Assured and South Coast Arden.
All Kilkelly wants to see from his southern star is a solid performance.
“Kirstin said he is as good as she can get him without having a race,” Kilkelly said.
“If he could run fifth or sixth and be not too far away from them you’d have to be happy.”
“Those other horses are Cup favourites and they’re hardened racehorses, where as our fella has had a workout and that’s all.”
“But Kirstin had him at the beach earlier this week and she said she couldn’t be happier with him.”
“There is no heat in his leg, hopefully he can stay sound and we might be up there (for the New Zealand Cup), who knows.”
Safely through tonight’s race, U May Cullect will head to the Ashburton Flying Stakes meeting.
Barclay and Kilkelly will also start Love On The Rocks in race 11 tonight.
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