After nearly becoming extinct, Saturday racing has returned to Southland.
Just three meetings into the new season, Invercargill hosted the first Saturday meeting on 17 September. Now a fortnight later its the turn of the Northern Southland club which this week stages the first of its three meetings at Ascot Park. Two of them are on Saturdays.
Notable also is that between those two meetings, most of the province has received no rainfall whatsoever, suggesting the water tanker will be as busy as any of the participants on Saturday.
Not so busy will be Clark Barron who has only three drives, but he trains them all and considers them all top three hopes.
“They're all in form and going forward,” he said of Manuka Valley in the G J Gardner Homes, Three Hundy in the Auckland Reactor 'Oldest Crop Are Now Three Year Olds', and Dancing Dixie in the Advance Agriculture Ltd.
“Manuka Valley's had not much luck, I hope we don't get buried on the rail this week, I expect a bold run,” said Barron.
“It will be hard for Three Hundy from the outside draw but if he backs up from his first run he'd be a chance.”
Dancing Dixie drops back from 2700 metres a fortnight ago to 1700 this week. She led from barrier two last time and has the ace this week.
“I've got no plans (to lead or otherwise) but she gets out good, I'd want to be in the front half of the field at least,” Barron said, “she's got a good chance but I wouldn't favour her more than my others, they're all even.”
Debbie Larkins has just the one drive on Saturday, aboard Rydgemont Milly in the Tony Stratford Racing Stables/Willy's Flooring Trot. The five-start mare, trained by Larkins in partnership with Mark Shirley, is racing for the first time since April.
“She has shown a little potential and we have given her time, she had a nice long break, has strengthened and come up nicely,” Larkins said.
Rydgemont Milly competed against the Nathan Williamson pair Sun's Invasion and Dark Horse in a workout on the Park last Saturday and was beaten into third by just a length and a head in a leisurely 3:45.6, last half 61 and quarter 28.9.
“I was very happy, it was a good chance to get her away and sit her in behind. If the races hadn't been here, I would have given her another workout, she might need the run but her fitness is good. As long as you don't push her at the start, she's right and she seems to have more confidence this year.”
Local trainer Wayne Adams has two in and considers Better Then Most from the three draw in the www.sirlincoln.co.nz could run up to his name.
“Its just his second start and he's still a bit green but he should go well,” Adams said. “He's a Bettor's Delight and improves on raceday, he's pretty good in front.”
His second runner is the one-start Christian Cullen gelding Louie, in waiting to join the significant line of winners produced by talented mare Chloe Hanover. Louie drew 12 when fourth on debut from a stand a fortnight ago and has drawn eight from behind the mobile this week in the Auckland Reactor 'Oldest Crop Are Now Three Year Olds'.
“He's capable but got a bad draw,” Adams said.
Paul Court will have three first starters down from his West Melton stable in Ground Rules – G J Gardner Homes, Malik – www.sirlincoln.co.nz, and Beach Skipper – Auckland Reactor 'Oldest Crop Are Now three Year Olds'. Despite his unreliability at the start, the speed shown by Malik in his trials point to him being the best of the trio. He is the only runner off the unruly in the 2200 metre mobile contest and the start will be the key.
Mac Henry