By Michael Guerin
Trainer Sean McCaffrey is warning punters not to expect Yagunnakissmeornot’s winning streak to continue at Alexandra Park tonight.
But not because she isn’t up to her rivals in race seven, simply because of timing.
The four-year-old mare has been on a winning rampage, easily claiming her only four starts this season including downing two of her key rivals tonight in Paramount Dream and Scarrymcleary.
That suggests Yagunnakissmeornot is a serious open class trotter in the making but co-trainer McCaffrey says he lack of recent racing could tell against her tonight.
“I think she is as good as these horses but they are race fit and she isn’t,” he explains.
“She hasn’t been to the workouts and to be honest, we have had a bit of a sniffle through the team which has forced us to turn some horses out.
“Because of that i haven’t worked her really hard but she needs a race this week to be ready for the Breeders Stakes next week.
“So I wouldn’t be surprised if she got beaten by one of those fit horses.”
The two most likely beneficiaries of Yagunnakissmeornot’s lack of fitness are Dickie-trained stablemates Paramount Dream and Scarrymcleary, both of who have developed into good stayers.
The trio all share a 35m backmark but their recent race fitness gives the latter pair more options to move mid race, with Paramount Dream maybe having the more natural ability so probably the one to beat.
Earlier tonight McCaffrey and training partner Ross Paynter bring a smart debutante to the races in juvenile Lambros, who will have good support in race four.
“He is unbeaten at the workouts but he hasn’t been up against any of the really serious two-year-olds yet so we don’t know how good he is,” explains McCaffrey.
“I am driving him myself because he has a few tricks but he also has gate speed so he will be handy. He can win, but I don’t think he can make his own luck and just beat them for fun.”
Tonight’s pacing feature sees No Doctor Needed and Bettor Spirits clash again after the latter stalked the former and downed him over 1700m last Friday.
No Doctor Needed sat parked on that occasion and was grabbed late but still appeals as likely to gain revenge tonight, even though Bettor Spirits looks to have got his confidence back and matured into a more rounded horse.
Another feature of tonight’s meeting is the arrival of the first southern raiders for the new Winger Group Oaks and Derby carnival, what used to be called Auckland Cup week but isn’t at Alexandra Park any more since the Cup reverted to December.
Exciting three-year-old Buster Brady takes on the boys including fellow Canterbury pacer Alta Las Vegas in the Sires’ Stakes Graduate while Ultimate Desire and Real Torque lead the southern charge in the fillies Graduette, both races acting as lead ups to the Derby and Oaks respectively.
Meanwhile, money continues to come for Have Faith In Me in Sunday’s A$750,000 Miracle Mile, with the NZ TAB having him the $2.80 favourite while he is also closing in on favouritism in Australia.
He headlines a super strong team New Zealand in five group one races on Sunday afternoon.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
