Ugly draw for The Dorchester
Boom colt The Dorchester has suffered a setback in his quest to be a last-minute qualifier for the Gr. 1 $170,000 Sires Stakes Series Final.
The Mitchell Kerr-trained colt has drawn the outside of the second line in Friday night’s final heat at Addington over the short-course 1950-metre trip.
At his most recent outing, last Monday at Ashburton, he set tongues wagging with a monster performance to win in 2.52.5 for the 2400-metre trip.
Kerr remains optimistic that his horse can run in the first four spots this week, which should be enough to qualify him for the final.
“You don’t run times like that on your ear unless you’re very good,” said Kerr.
“So you’d have to think he’s a royal chance this week although he does still lack a little ringcraft and some of them are pretty well-drilled.”
Besides the draw, The Dorchester and driver Matt Anderson will have to contend with no less than six horses trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, including last season’s champion two-year-old, Spankem.
Regal Love injured, retired
Last-start Group 1 place-getter Regal Love has been retired by connections after going amiss in training.
Managing owner Ken Breckon confirmed this week that the four-year-old daughter of Love You would be joining his broodmare band.
At her last outing she ran third behind Enghien in the Harness Jewels 3YO Ruby at Ashburton in early June in the hands of co-trainer Natalie Rasmussen.
Regal Love is a half-sister to the recently-retired multiple Group 1-winner High Gait and last Friday night’s Alexandra Park winner, Girls On Film.
Telfer and Butcher combo combine again at Palmy
Ardmore trainer Steve Telfer sent a team to the first Manawatu meeting of the season in Palmerston North on Tuesday and came away with a pair of wins.
Both were driven by junior driver Ben Butcher, with whom he has forged a good association in the early stages of this season.
Butcher reined home Ardent Lustre and Delightful Zen to win the last two races on the twilight card.
He has now driven six winners for Telfer this season including two behind glamour mare Better B Amazed and last Friday night’s Sires Stakes Series heat with American Brave.
The double was also a stinger for bookies, who took a $5,000 bet on Ardent Lustre at $4.50 and received a lot of interest in Delightful Zen too.
Sailesh Abernethy also drove a double on the card, picking up wins with Gotta Moment and Contractual Issues.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
