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By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Cambridge trainer Ross Paynter has an exciting couple of days ahead of him.
The appetiser will come at his home track on Thursday when he lines-up As Free As Air in the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion Handicap Trot (2700m), with the main course coming a day later at Alexandra Park when Anditover competes in the Gr.1 Rowe Cup (3200m).
As a trotting enthusiast, the Rowe Cup has always been held in high regard by Paynter who previously finished fourth in the staying feature with Group One winner Lemond.
āIt is the one race I would like to win,ā he said.
āYou need a pretty classy horse to do it. I had Lemond and he was right up to winning it but didnāt get a lot of luck in the run a couple of times, but still went good races.ā
While Anditover isnāt in the same class as his former stablemate, Paynter is hopeful of a bold run from the son ofĀ Andover HallĀ after he returned to winning form a fortnight ago at Alexandra Park.
āHe is a nice horse, he just lacks a bit of real speed,ā Paynter said.
āThe two miles will suit him. There are five or six there that are a lot classier than him, but the rest of them he can handle.
āHe is feeling really well and racing really well at the moment.ā
While he is holding out hope of ticking a major bucket list item off on Friday, Paynter is looking forward to Cambridge Racewayās Thursday meeting with As Free As Air.
The six-year-old mare returned to form when placing at Alexandra Park last week and Paynter said she will appreciate a return to Cambridge.
āShe hasnāt done a lot of racing at Auckland, but she just cost herself around the last bend,ā he said. āShe should have really finished second, but it was a good run.
āShe will be better going back left-handed this week.ā
As Free As Air has won one and placed in three of her last five starts, with her only blemish coming at Cambridge two starts back when breaking at the start.
But Paynter has taken plenty of confidence from her last start and has entrusted her to the care of junior driver Luke Whittaker on Thursday.
āHe has been ringing up for a while to drive her,ā Paynter said. āShe is not really a junior drivers horse but she is in really good form and she always behaves better over the 2700m.
āHe is going to have a go on her this week to see if we can get a penalty free win.ā