by Duane Ranger
Punters who back trotters from Dr Luk Chin’s Cambridge stable know they are always a chance swinging for home.
So it comes as no surprise that the Hamilton anesthetist, pain management specialist, and medical managing director said he would be again attempting to hunt the front when his two trotters – Tereskova and Djokovic – line up in the third and eighth events at Alexandra Park tonight.
Djokovic looks the early pace-maker from barrier one in the $14,999 Italian Night Mobile for the R75 to R97 trotters, while Chin said Tereskova can get to the front in the $13,500 Waste Management Handicap for the R50 to R75 trotters – providing she can avoid traffic.
“I always like to put my horses in the race, and I pride myself on the fact that they usually step away okay from the stand. Tereskova has been stepping well and putting herself in the race off front marks. This is the first time in a while that she will start from back in the field (20m).
“She will have to thread her way through traffic, and that is a bit concerning because she’s never had to do that before. But if she can get clear air then yes I will be looking for the lead,” Dr Chin said.
“She’s done much better than I thought she would this season. I thought she had reached her mark six months ago but she’s really gone on with it since then, placing quite a bit,” the 74-year-old owner/breeder/trainer/driver added.
Djokovic won’t have to do much to better his namesake’s performance at Wimbledon this week (retired – quarter finals), and Chin thinks he should be able to hold the lead from the ace.
“He hasn’t won a race this season but placed five times, and that could be the case again tonight. He has been racing against some of the best trotters going around, but it’s a small field which will suit Yagunnakissmeornot. She has an amazing turn of foot and I think she will be too good for this field – especially with just five in it,” he said.
Tereskova and Djokovic, who have won eight and 10 races respectively, are rated R69 and R75.
Dr Chin had the following to say about the two six-year-old trotters (which he will drive):
Race 3: (12) Tereskova 20m – “She has always been such a good beginner and like I said before traffic is my biggest concern here. She is capable of winning with a sit but she is a free-rolling mare and is a better chance in front. She bowls along quite nicely when she’s in front. She has been racing consistently well lately and I’d rate her an each-way chance in this race. She is the better winning prospect of my two.”
Race 8: Djokovic (1) – “He can set some nice quarters out in front and he’s not too bad out of the mobile gate, so I think he can hold the rail. The one draw over the 1700m will suit him nicely, but Yagunnakissmeornot has big acceleration. She won’t have to be pushed too hard early knowing there are only five in it. I think my fella is running for place money.”
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