Harness racing policy changed on December 1, restricting drivers to 10 strikes within the last 400m of a race. The change has made for strong debate among harness racing participants across several forums. While that discussion plays out, one horse may have forgotten the whip even exists. Seduce Me has been racing recently without her driver carrying a whip, and she is loving it. Her Roxburgh co-trainer, Geoff Knight, was relieved the mare finally won last Sunday after seven placings in 11 previous starts.
"She’s really turned the corner in her attitude. We have taken the whip off her and she seems to be enjoying racing without being pressured."
Knight expects the mare to continue to progress and be competitive in race 1 at the Forbury Park meeting tonight.
"From [barrier] 1 she’s going to be in the hunt."
The Geoff and Jude Knight training partnership also lines up Silver Dale from the same draw in race 3. The grey gelding impressed Geoff Knight in winning a Balfour grass-track trial on Sunday and would be a good chance tonight, he said. Zenmach did not fare as well in his latest attempt on grass, finishing eighth at Oamaru on Saturday.
But Knight urged his backers not to drop him, after "things didn’t go to plan" in that race.
"Keep the faith with him."
Idealistic Lass returns to racing for the trainers after more than eight months away from racing.
That return had to wait another 10 days after the previous Forbury Park meeting because of a tying-up issue.
"She’s over that now."
Idealistic Lass is a quick beginner and would go into tonight’s race in good order, Knight said.
"We’re really pleased with her. She’s fast away from a stand."
Southland reinsman Brent Barclay looks a good chance to book-end the programme, with strong chances in races 1 and 8.
Trendy’s Bad Girl was a last-start failure on a slushy Ascot Park, but before that had run second placings in her previous two race starts. Barclay drives Reciprocity in race 8 and she has drawn barrier 1. The 3yr-old showed good gate-speed from the same barrier in her last start at Ascot Park and should receive a good run tonight. To win she must hold out Millwood Daisy who has drawn at the opposite end of the front line.
The Cran Dalgety-trained filly has notched two 2yr-old wins including one in Australia.
However, she brings in a recent formline full of zeros, except for a last-start seventh. Her presence adds to what looks an intriguing contest to end the night’s racing.
● The reigning Interdominion pacing champion and favourite for this year’s final, Lennytheshark, was withdrawn from the series in Perth yesterday. The pacer had been under an injury cloud since a shock defeat in the last round of qualifying heats. Adjusted markets have Hectorjayjay as the new favourite. The $A1.1million final will be run at 2.30am tomorrow.
- Jonny Turner
Best from the barn
Matthew Williamson
Race 2: Idealistic Lass (8)
Nathan Williamson
Race 2: Passion Flower (1)
Rory McIlwrick
Race 5: Danny Del Vito (2)
Phil Williamson
Race 6: Phil’s Gift (11)
Craig Ferguson
Race 8: Millwood Daisy (8)Geoff Knight
Some of the fields for the meeting at Forbury Park tonight were missing from today's U-Bet. For the full fields please click here.
