By Adam Hamilton
NEW trainer Mike Reed is starting to see the best of buzz Kiwi import Our Angel Of Harlem.
It’s been a frustrating ride since she changed hands and left New Zealand to join Reed’s stable.
And it’s left him racing time to have Our Angel Of Harlem primed for the WA Oaks in a couple of weeks.
“But things are coming together well now,” Reed said. “She worked really with a couple of good colts on Saturday and she’s ready to run a big race this week.
“I’d still say whatever she does in the (WA Oaks) prelude this Friday, she’ll be better again for the Oaks in a couple of weeks.”
Reed was dealt a curveball when Our Angel Of Harlem was stranded in Melbourne for five weeks during her trip from NZ to Perth.
“It just went on and on. Obviously if I’d known she’d be there that long, I’d have given her to a trainer to work for me, but we were on standby the whole timing. Thinking we could get her out the next day,” he said.
“She was in full training when she left NZ, but did nothing for that time in Melbourne. So I was behind the eight-ball when she got here.
“I gave her that one run on a stinking hot day at Pinjarra (March 13) and she ran quite well, but ran out of puff in the last bit. She’s a lot fitter now.”
Our Angel Of Harlem has gate seven in the Oaks prelude at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Two races later, Reed will line-up former Bechers Brook (gate seven) and former Kiwi pacer Golden State (nine) in the $200,000 Group 1 WA Derby.
“Golden State has more point-to-point speed, but Bechers Brook will love the 2536m. They’ll both need luck. I’d still lean slightly to Golden State because of his speed,” he said.
Golden State is an $8 shot on the Aussie TAB with Bechers Brook at $14.
Recent buzz Kiwi imports King Of Swing ($2.80, gate three) and Ocean Ridge (gate 10, $3,20) dominate the betting.
Ocean Ridge sat off the pace and ran straight past King Of Swing, who led, to win prelude of the Derby easily last week.
But Ocean Ridge will need luck from inside the back row this time and King Of Swing will be improved by the run.
Back to Reed’s barn and he made a point of talking about his regally-bred, unraced two-year-old. The colt is a brother to Bling It On (American Ideal out of Alldatglittersisgold).
“I like him. I really like him. He’s shown plenty at the trials is on his way back after a break. He’s three weeks away from a race and the Golden Slipper is the target,” he said.
“He’s certainly inherited the family speed that’s for sure.”
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