By Duane Ranger
Pukekohe trainer Ray Green has four pacers lining up in two races at Cambridge Raceway on Thursday and is confident he can go close in both of them.
He has three lightly tried 3-year-olds and a trial-winning 4-year-old lining up at the Bay of Plenty Harness Racing Club’s meeting.
Designer Arden and David Butcher will start from the ace in the third event – the $5,500 Highview Tommy Pace, while Bute Boy and Philip Butcher will start from gate four.
Green was happy with Designer Arden’s first-up sixth when third favourite at Cambridge on September 25.
“His first start on the track here last month wasn’t as bad as it looked. He is still very green. He should have been in the money but zigged when he should have zagged. He should go a lot better this time and from his nice draw should go really well.
I think he is my best chance on the night,” The Lincoln Farms trainer said.
He also liked the well-bred Bute Boy, who is out of the Nero’s B B mare, Te Phyno. She left Group One winner Badlands Bute, as well as good mid-graded pacers, Caps Off, Glencoe MacDonald, and Bute Mach.
“He is a well-related 3-year-old who won his trial well late last month and then placed at the Pukekohe Workouts on Saturday. This is his first start. He’s not a speed horse like Designer Arden. If he can get out of the gate okay he’s the sort of long gaited pacer who needs to be bowling a long in front,” Green said.
His third 3-year-old will line up two races later in the $5,500 Room Mates Cabin Mobile. Zanibar Babe (Shane Butcher) will start from gate five and will be having her third start.
“She’s the more reliable of the two fillies in the field. She has trained on well is very tradesman-like and won’t do much wrong. They are both good chances in this race,” Green said.
Workout winner, Ideal Quest (Philip Butcher) is in the same race and will start one spot inside her stablemate.
“She went real well last start and showed a bit of tenacity. She also won a Workout at Pukekohe last Sunday by seven lengths (2:03.4 mile rate). She’s just coming to it nicely,” said Green.
The feature event – the $7,500 Highfield Country Estate Handicap for C2 and faster pacers should see the Peter Scaife trained and Brent Mangos driven Vibhuti go two-straight.
The 5-year-old American Ideal gelding will start from 20m behind this week after winning easily from 10m last start.
He’s had a month to recover from that run and only needs to step from his unruly mark to be a real threat in this. If he’s anywhere near them turning for home the race is his.
Vibhuti boasts four wins from 15 starts – three on the track and two over Thursday’s 2200m standing start distance.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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