Peter and Vaughan Blanchard have been extra patient with Lovely Bundy and their perseverance and diligence with the 5-year-old mare should reap more rewards at Alexandra Park tonight.
The daughter of Love You and Kelly Bundy will start one of the favourites in the penultimate leg of the $40,000 Pick6 at northern headquarters.
She goes into the feature trot – the $14,999 Fresher Foods Handicap for the R61 to R89 squaregaiters with an easy two-and-a-half length victory in an R41 to R59 trot at Alexandra Park last Friday.
She started from the unruly three mark that night and was the $4.40 second favourite.
"She has got better with each run this campaign (six, third, first). She's had a few problems with manners and even though she won last week we want to keep her fresh. In future we will space her races out to keep her happy.
"It's all about keeping her content. When's she's happy she races at her best and just recently I think our patience with her is paying off. She can win on Friday and together with Tact Ollie (race three) she would be our best winning chance," said Blanchard, who trains with his father at Pukekohe.
Lovely Bundy will be looking to nail her third win in 14 starts and off the front Blanchard thinks she can go close.
"If she trots all the way, which I think she will, then she will be tough to beat. She has come through her last race well.
"We have got a bit of time for her and think she can at least make a very good intermediate grade trotter one day," Blanchard said.
Both of Lovely Bundy's wins have been at Alexandra Park, including one over tonight's distance. She will again be driven by David Butcher.
Blanchard then gave HRNZ his insight into his team’s three other runners on Friday. Here’s what he had to say about the trio.
Race 2: Acougarzsun (3) Zac Butcher – "He has been out of form but we have had him vet checked and think he has turned the corner. He’s training real well and from the draw I think he can be a First 4 player.”
Race 3: Tact Ollie (1) – Peter Ferguson – "This gelding has raced real well recently. If they went real hard and say stopped the clock in 40 or 41 then he would go close. He would love a solid pace because he has drawn to get a nice sit. Each-way.”
Race 8: Luck Of Moment (1) – David Butcher – "I can’t get a drive on this 2-year-old filly. This is Dad’s special horse and he thinks she can go a long way. This is a big ask for her first up over 2200, but she trots well. If she did things right then she is more than capable of winning.” Footnote: This Lucky Chucky filly is unbeaten in four trials and workouts on April 12, April 29, May 6, and May 20.
Duane Ranger