By Matt Markham
The return of exciting 3-year-old Franco Cristiano is the highlight of the opening day of two day’s racing at Blenheim’s Waterlea Raceway this afternoon.
The Robert Dunn trained pacer, who has been unsighted at the races in over seven months, makes his return today after being sidelined with a hairline fracture in a pastern shortly after Cup Week last November.
A Sires’ Stakes heat winner earlier in the season, the Bettor’s Delight gelding has always been held in high regard.
An impressive trial winner at Ashburton last week, Franco Cristiano resumes in a low key event today, but does face up against another handy three-year-old in Celestial Arden who has the added bonus of the ace barrier draw.
John Dunn has already indicated this week that he’s not expecting the world from his rising star early on in proceedings, but on class alone he should be hard to beat.
An unsuccessful night at Forbury last night leaves the Dunn stable still 16 wins short of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen in the national trainers’ premiership.
Early on when the announced they were going to try and target the premiership they did highlight the two day Blenheim meeting as one occasion where they might be able to make up some ground.
They’ve got eight strong chances across today’s programme with winning hopes coming courtesy of Dancing In The Dark, Blood And Whiskey, Graduate Under Fire and Highview Freddy and the talented Letspendanitetogetha.
That’s coupled with two winning hopes at Auckland in Natural and Formula One.
Robert’s other son, and John’s younger brother, Dexter will head to the meeting as well on 199 wins for the season after winning with Lightning Mach last night.
Shooting for his fifth season of driving more than 200 winners (two others finished on 199), Dunn has a busy weekend in store with a flight to Australia on Saturday to pair up with superstar pacer Christen Me in Queensland where he is currently campaigning.
Dexter has eight drives this afternoon with strong hopes on the Cran Dalgety trained trio of Il Divo, Black Regal Princess and Recipe For Dreaming.
His best hope though comes courtesy of his father in Highview Freddy who is flying currently.
Highview Tommy’s little brother was placed twice at Nelson behind Ideal Arden and will appreciate there being only one horse off the front line today with the remainder of the seven horse field off a 10 metre handicap.
A noted front-runner, Highview Freddy looks perfectly suited to the Waterlea Raceway given it’s often leader bias with few horses coming from off the speed to win there.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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