There’s potential for Motukarara to live up to it’s Bermuda Triangle billing this afternoon.
The big, roomy, grass track is renowned for throwing up long-price winners and generally giving punters a headache.
Today should be no different for the club’s big race day and with massive fields and even lineups, the chances of some double-digit winners is a high probability.
In particular the feature event of the day, the Xmas Cup, is has many winning chances.
The Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained duo of Benicio and Motu Premier look set to dominate betting, but after a horror day at Ashburton on Boxing Day where the stable had three hot-pots rolled there’s enough there to make you start second guessing yourself.
What looks more appealing is the grass track credentials of some of the contenders.
Horses like Boomer Bailey, Clasina Maria, Dana Duke and Rocki Warrior all have strong grass track form and that will aid them well in a race like this.
Meanwhile Ladbrooks trainer, Dean Taylor, heads into the meeting on 497 career training wins.
He moved to the mark courtesy of Franco Tmick’s seven and a half length romp at Westport yesterday and has a strong team in both today and then tomorrow at Reefton which could see him get close to the mark before the week is out.
His six runners today include impressive last start winner, Go Davey who should be a royal show in the Wakefield and Williams Grass Track Final.
Jessica Young takes the reins on the pacer as she looks to extend her impressive record on the Motukarara track after driving three winners at the last meeting on the venue which was the Akaroa meeting.
All totaled Young has driven 14 of her 53 career winners on the track.
Taylor’s other chances for the day include; maiden’s King Size, Possente Cavallo, Fortune Tiller and Scotlyn Mach and Nomattermee.
Young has a nice drive in the feature event on Clasina Maria for her father, Paul.
Matt Markham