Cousins Tom Bagrie and John Dunn head to today’s Nelson trots with vastly different approaches.
While both horsemen have a decent chunk of their racing team entered, that is seemingly their only similarity.
Bagrie lines up two runners from his Ohoka stable in BD Khaosan in race 2 and The Governor in race 6.
Dunn, the manager of the South Island arm of his father Robert’s stable, has 12 runners, and drives in all 11 races.While Bagrie may be behind in numbers, but he certainly is not behind in horse power.
The Governor looked a handy 3yr-old earlier this season. Today he lines up for his first start since taking on New Zealand’s best 3yr-old, Ultimate Machete, during New Zealand Cup week.
"He went a couple of really good races during cup week and I gave him a freshen-up."
Bagrie has not ruled out another crack at the better 3yr-olds, but today The Governor returns to graded racing. He comes into the race on the back of one quiet Methven workout and a trip to Rangiora to work with a galloping pacemaker.
Those runs have made his trainer confident the horse is race-fit.
"I think he should be OK. He should be forward enough."
Bagrie also lines up BD Khaosan under similar circumstances in race 2.
The maiden trotter showed good form in November, and has had a similarly quiet Methven workout. He was still in a development stage, having done well to qualify and then place at the races in a short time, Bagrie said.
"I think he is pretty good on fitness levels. He has been working well and his heart rate has been right, but we will find out [today]."
Miss Daisy heads Dunn’s strong line-up in the feature pace, the Nelson Cup Prelude.
Miss Daisy was narrowly beaten by her classy stablemate, American Tart, in a fast time at Ashburton on Boxing Day.
Dunn could conceivably drive the winners of every maiden race at Nelson today. He steers Hayden’s Meddle in race 1, Muscles Galore in race 2, Kotare Mist in race 3, Johnny White in race 4 and Returntorocknroll in race 5.
- Jonny Turner
