by Duane Ranger
Cambridge trainer Arna Donnelly has three good propsects at Cambridge Raceway tonight.
Fresh from her best training season in the 37-year-old said she has two good “each-way” chances in the third and fifth events at the Waikato Bay Of Plenty Harness Racing Club’s second meeting of 2017-2018.
Donnelly has already trained a winner this season. That was on opening night at ‘The Raceway” on August 3 when junior drove Mark Johnson reined Glenferrie Duster to a one-and-a-quarter length victory.
Last season was Donnelly’s personal best with 25 winners from 175 starters ($194,743). Her previous best was in 2015-2016 when she won 22 times from 226 starts ($164,108).
All-up she’s trained 106 winners from 1,012 starters ($750,567) since 2003-2004.
Tonight junior driver Alicia Harrison will steer the 8-year-old Lis Mara mare, Valmara (2) in race three – the $8,000 Cambridge Raceway Functions Mobile for the Up to R55 pacers.
Then two races later Zac Butcher will get in the bike behind 5-year-old Bettor’s Delight gelding – bet Out Of El (20m) in the feature event – the $8,500 Matamata Club Handicap for the R76 to R82 pacers. Harrison will drive Imajollywally (10m) in the same race.
Valmara was quoted at $24 and $6.20, while Bet Out Of El was the $2.30 and $1.12 favourite, and Imajollywally $6.80 and $1.90.
“I think they are all good chances. Valmara has drawn nicely at two and the 20m back-mark shouldn’t bother Bet Out of El too much, so long as they don’t go too hard in front and make it hard for the back-markers to catch up,” Donnelly said.
“Imajollywally gets a 10m concession with Alicia in the sulky and can also get some of it,” she added.
The feature 2200m stand is an even contest. Bet Out Of Ell’s five opponents are all paying between $5.20 and Imajollywally’s outsider odds of $6.80 on the TAB’s fixed market.
“Bet Out Of Ell in particular has been going well of late. We were thinking about putting him in a workout but decided to race him. He’s had 10 days off and has come back real well.
“He will probably need the run but in saying that I still think he’s good enough to win. The little field makes it a ‘cat and mouse’ type race but he’s been racing against better fields at Alexandra Park and I think he can acquit himself well,” Donnelly said.
Bet Out of Ell will be attempting to nail his sixth win from 19 starts tonight. He has won twice from four starts at Cambridge but has yet to win in four starts from a stand.
“I’d like to think he can keep stepping up this season. He’s a lovely horse and I’ve got a lot of time for him. I think Zac will give him every chance tonight,” Donnelly said.
“He started well last season and I’m hoping the horse can do the same this season as well,” she added.
Donnelly said that even though Imajollywally did flip his pallet, and said if he doesn’t show any breathing problems tonight, then he could also go close.
“As for Valmara she has a bit of speed and if she is handy she can certainly upset them. It will be a case of who gets the best run.
“She’s only an R40 rated pacer taking on R55s and R56s but she has placed on the track and Alicia gets on real well with her. The mare is one of her favourite horses.
“I hope both of Alicia’s drives go well because is a good kid with a great work ethic. The owners were happy to put her on especially with her concession,” Donnelly said.
The Cambridge horsewoman said she was keen to better last season’s personal best tally.
“It was a great year last season but I’m always striving to do better. That’s the target this season – even if it’s just two or three wins more than last year,” she said.
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