The All Stars harness racing juggernault continues to perform on both sides of the Tasman.
David McCarthy from the All Stars team has done a wrap on the Australian team and how they are progressing and with their kind permission we reproduce that here.
BRISBANE
Don't believe all you see in the Brisbane fields this week.
Both Hug The Wind and Fight For Glory are not going around in the Breeders Crown heats and only Linda Lovegrace will start this week.
Natalie might also have to pull the pin on the Country Cup series she had her eye on for Gentle Western as he battles back to his best.
"I put the others in the Breeders Crown assuming they were nominated and Queensland harness put them in but it turns out they are not paid up for the Breeders Crown series" Natalie said.
"Queensland Harness have apologised for not being aware of it but as it turned out I wasn't either having taken it for granted they would be paid up as nearly all our horses are. "
The problem for Hug The Wind is that he faces a big test next Saturday (July 4) in the G1 Nursery Stakes of $A100,000 so missing a race this week is bad news.
"He will trial on Friday to give him a hitout for next week now" Natalie said.
She put down his gallop when winning at Redcliffe as partly her fault.
"He is a bit funny sometimes going past horses."
"He gets up to them and gets a narrow lead and then he doesn't want to go on."
"I gave him a bit of a prod and he didn't like that ! But he is thriving and that is why he needs another hitout before next week"
Smolda also has his first big run in Queensland on July 4 in the $A100,000 Sunshine Sprint but he is well race seasoned.
Fight For Glory has the A$100,000 Queensland Oaks on July 11 as her next major target so missing a race is not a problem at this stage.
She has come thru her Gold Coast Oaks win in fine order and not being in the Breeder's Crown is a matter of regret after that performance.
Linda Lovegrace continues to thrive.
Gentle Western has given Natalie a few worries though and he is more likely than not to miss the Country Cup series the heats of which are next Friday.
"He was just a bit off leading into the Premier's Cup which is one reason I copped a fine for going to slow in front with him."
"I wanted to be as easy on him as I could."
"And he wasn't really right for the final either but was just too good for them."
"He is coming right but I don't want to go into a series like that unless he is 100 per cent."
"At this stage the best target for him looks the Four Year Old Championship (July 18) which he was always going to be looking at."
That is on Queensland Derby night, a major aim for Hug The Wind.
SYDNEY
The Sydney campaign continues on a positive note and the horses are doing so well there that Mark is expecting to extend the horse's stay before heading to Melbourne for the Breeder's Crown.
"It's warmer here and the horses are thriving so it makes sense to keep things going like that" Mark said.
"The draws for most of the horses on Sunday is good and everything is looking good at this stage"
However luck this week in Melbourne is not quite as good.
Follow The Stars has drawn one on the second line and Chris Alford who has been driving him can't do so.
"I asked the club to split his drives but they refused saying they now only do that for trainers not drivers."
"I am sure Anthony Butt is available and he will be a good substitute but it means Chris misses out on an opportunity."
"They have put most of the form horses in the same heat which doesn't help us from the draw"
Mark is pleased with how Follow the Stars is handling the travelling to and from Melbourne.
He will be home again after Friday's race.
"He has usually been a good traveller but he had a long trip last week and seemed to recover well. He is thriving over here too"
Dream About Me and High Gait have arrived for the Breeder's Crown series but Mark is in no hurry with them.
"We haven't got them nominated for anything and it is early days yet. They will tell us when they are ready to go'
David McCarthy – All Stars Racing Stables Check site here