With just a week to go before the time honoured Sapling Stakes is run at Ashburton Raceway a two year old race has at last got off the ground in Canterbury.
Seven runners will go round in the 1950 metres mobile event at Addington Raceway tonight but on exposed form at trials and workouts there are really only four live chances.
As per normal, the All Star barn has the two leading chances involved in More The Better and Pacing Major.
More The Better put in a huge performance on debut at Alexandra Park to only just go under by half a head to the dual race winner Alta Intrigue but that was back in mid December so his race fitness is a slight query.
Pacing Major was just as impressive on debut at Alexandra Park, also going under by only half a head after they dashed home off the front in a blistering 26.2.
With a run at the races under their belt, these two have a distinct advantage experience wise over most here.
Tim Williams found it hard to separate the two colts leading into tonights race.
"More The Better has had longer away from the races than Pacing Major and I guess there will be interest in which is the better prospect."
"I guess More the Better was my choice in some ways but there is not much between them and it was just I had worked with him a bit more while Natalie has handled Pacing Major."
"I would have to say More The Better would probably be better judged next week (Sapling Stakes)."
"That is the race that will tell us exactly where he is at."
"But I don't think there is anything in it just that Pacing Major has had a race more recently," Tim said.
Cran Dalgety has a debutante in the son of Somebeachsomewhere in Shineonyoucrazydiamond who has looked very promising at trials recently.
An $80,000 purchase at the Australian Pacing Gold Sale, he has looked a quick improver and with a handy draw and Dexter in the bike he appeals as the logical horse to make up the trifecta.
The other interesting runner is the Paul Court trained son of Mach Three in Mongolian Hero who raced very greenly on debut at Alexandra Park but really impressed at workouts at Motukarara on his return south, brushing home in a sharp 27.7 when winning last Saturday.
So an All Star quinella again looks on the cards with the Dalgety and Court runners the obvious dangers to the favoured duo.
Harnesslink Media