By Duane Ranger
The Peter and Vaughan Blanchard trained Art I Special can win the feature pacing event at the Manawatu Harness Racing Club’s meeting at Palmerston North tonight (Thursday).
That’s the opinion of Peter’s son Vaughan, who together with Quick Fun (race three), believes the 7-year-old son of Artsplace is their stable’s best winning chance.
The David Butcher driven Art I Special will be the only horse to start from the second row in the $7,500 Cartown Mobile for the C2 to C6 pacers.
Toughest for him to beat will be the locally trained Bankcard (Andre Poutama), and the Mike Berger trained Maloo (Philip Butcher), who drops back in class for the 2000m mobile.
Two of Art I Special’s five wins have been over that distance. He has also placed three times from five starts on the track.
Here’s what Pukekohe-based Blanchard had to say about the gelding and his three other runners at the meeting:
Race 5: Art I Special (8) – “He’s a nice horse who hasn’t had much luck go his way lately. He got knocked down last start at Cambridge, and although he finished third he could have got a lot closer to the first two home. We are happy with the way he has trained on and should be tough to beat on this track.
Race 2: Vanishing (9) – “David (Butcher) will give her every chance from the second line. She’s had a couple of starts now and has got stage fright but we think the penny has dropped. She’s got quite a bit of ability and speed but it will be interesting to see if she handles race night this time. If things do click then she can certainly run in three.”
Race 3: Quick Fun (1) – “He went okay on debut at Cambridge back in May and the spell will do him the world of good. He’s a nice pacer who trialled real well when running second at Pukekohe on Saturday. Dad used to train his half-brother, who won nine races, so he’s a well bred horse. He and Art I Special are our best chances on Thursday. This fella can win or place.”
Race 6: Here’s Shifty (10) – “This is another second row draw but he’s good enough to overcome it over 2500m. This is his first race since early July but he raced well last campaign. I think he can be competitive in this field first-up.”
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