Injury plagued pacer Didjamakem Bolt has made a significant step towards a race day comeback after a workout at the harness racing workouts at Rangiora yesterday.
The Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained pacer was charging through the grades in 2013, seemingly assured of making open class company, until a cannon bone fracture halted his rapid progress.
No date has been set for a race day return yet, but his second in a heat at the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday is encouraging.
The now 7-year-old Tinted Cloud gelding, who has a record of nine starts for six wins and a second, was devastating when sound.
In seven starts in New Zealand Didjamakem Bolt won six and ran second in the other.
In two starts across the Tasman he ran fourth and fifth.
There was a brief comeback back in January when he won a trial over Border Control and Christen Me at Ashburton but he did not get back to the races as planned.
Purdon was pleased with the opening hit out and said all going well Didjamakem Bolt would be back to the trials or workouts next week.
All Stars stablemate Lazarus won the heat over 2000m by half a length.
Lazarus is heading for the for the fifth and final heat of the Sires Stakes 3-year-old colts and geldings at Addington on October 23.
The Bettor's Delight colt has not been to the races since winning the Harness Jewels as a 2-year-old but looks like he will be more than competitive in his 3-year-old campaign.
There were no records broken when he paced the 2000m in 2-38.1, with a mile rate of 2-07.1 and closing sectionals of 58.4 and 27.9, but he lead off the mobile to the winning post easily enough.
Last season's 3-year-old of the year Have Faith In Me had a quiet run in behind the field in his first public run since winning the Jewels.
The four time Group I winner settled at the rear of the five strong field and jogged home in behind them under a tight hold.
Trotting mare Petite One and 3-year-old pacing filly MacKenzie were also workout winners for the All Stars stable.
Mat Kermeen
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