Cambridge trainer Nicky Chilcott has four strong chances at Auckland tonight, with comeback trotter The Crown Jewels a standout in the last and first-starter Scherger Chief rated a top-three hope in the fourth on the card.
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Chilcott also has last-start trotting winners Shay Scott and Harry H in the third, with both capable of winning if they do everything right.
The Crown Jewels (two wins) starts from the unruly as he takes on an average field in his first mobile start and Chilcott says he ‘’should win’’, if on his best behaviour.
“It’s his race to lose. I’m very happy with him, he’s very bright. He hasn’t seen the (mobile) gate, but I’ll be giving them a length or so at the start and making sure he trots.’’
The six-year-old son of Pegasus Spur suffered a stifle injury which kept him away from the races for a year, resuming on June 30 with three promising efforts, but has blotted his copybook in his last two runs after losing big stretches of ground.
“He did step the other night (when sixth), then galloped and that’s not like him. There was no real reason. Once he settled down he trotted well, but ducked in up the home straight and locked wheels.
“He would have definitely run third or fourth. It (locking wheels) did cost him and he lost all his momentum.’’
He trotted his last 800m in 61.1sec, the fastest in the race, despite being three and four wide.
Chilcott works him on the treadmill and beach and reports that his work was “great’’ in the last week.
“He’s been enthusiastic and felt really good so I can’t find an excuse tomorrow night.
‘’I put him on the unruly and even if he gives them a couple of lengths at the start it’s going to be a lot better than his last start. He should win if he does everything right.’’
She says speedy but erratic eight-year-old trotter Shay Scott is thriving on racing since joining her stable and looks “a million dollars’’.
He has won two at Cambridge recently by big margins and only needs to trot away to be a big chance in the third on Friday.
“He’s a very quick horse, but just has to get it right early. After that he drives himself, you could throw the reins in the dust-sheet.
“He’s putting on weight and getting brighter, the racing is not affecting him one bit. He’s just jumping out of his skin.’’
Muscles Yankee five-year-old Harry H starts from 20m for driver Fergus Schumacher, but his gritty win at Cambridge last week when resuming shows he could be right there at the business end.
“He’s done a lot of work and we’ve put a lot of emphasis on his manners. He does lack a bit of speed and just grinds away.
“He ended up with a lovely trip (last week) and they ran solid sectionals and it suited him. He’s come on since then too. I’m confident that he’ll do things right and put himself in the race. He’s a realistic place chance.’’
Scherger Chief has been solid at the workouts, but Chilcott said the three-year-old Sportswriter gelding will be better for his first race-night experience, and strikes a strong maiden pacing field in the fourth.
“I really liked him early on, but we’ve had a few issues and he’s developed a few naughty habits, so we’ve had to spend a bit of time trying to iron them out.
‘’But he’s been professional in his last few trials and got to the line quite good last Saturday.
“He’s more of a top-four chance. If gets a nice trip and hits the line he can definitely run top three or four.’’
She confirmed that six-year-old gelding Everything (six wins, $36,596), who was a star of the northern grass-track circuit last summer, has been sold to the Kevin Pizzuto stable in Sydney.
“He was fantastic for the Summer Fun syndicate. It was a great ride that’s for sure.’’
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