By Adam Hamilton
There is a Harness Jewels spotlight on Melton Friday night, but just not in the way we first thought.
Gifted four-year-old Mr Mojito was slated to make his racetrack return for new trainer Kerryn Manning in the Bold David Free-For-All in preparation for a Jewels raid.
But Manning convinced owner Merv Butterworth to skip this week and go straight to the 4&5YO Championship at Melton on Saturday week.
“Kerryn didn’t want to risk getting a poor draw in what’s a fairly strong field and having a gut-buster first-up,” Butterworth said. “She’s adamant she can him as fit as he needs to be at home to give it a huge shake next week.”
While Mr Mojito is staying at home, another of Butterworth’s best horses, Our Golden Goddess, has drawn superbly in gate two in the $30,000 Group 3 Angelique Club Cup (2240m).
And that’s where the Harness Jewels factor comes into play.
Initially Butterworth was against returning to NZ with Our Golden Goddess for a crack at the Jewels after his two-race Aussie raid.
“I’m now keen to send her back,” he said. “You can tell everyone, providing she runs as well as expect this week and in the Queen of the Pacific the week after, she will head back for the Jewels.
“All going well she will be on the same flight across as Mr Mojito.”
Butterworth believes the kind draw on Friday gives Our Golden Goddess every chance to upset superstar mare The Orange Agent, who has drawn out wide on the back row (gate 12).
It’s notoriously hard to win from wide back row draws in 1720m and 2240m races around Melton.
“We’ve got our chance from the draw,” Butterworth said. “Her past couple runs in Auckland have been outstanding.”
Grant Campbell takes the reins on Our Golden Goddess.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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