“It’s a great concept and it encourages the stallions not to increase their fees,” Negus said.
With thirty-six winners so far this season, he is also closing in on his personal best of forty-four in 2008.
The Negus day starts in Race One with Foveaux Gambler (Betting Line).
He didn’t see the light of day in his last start at Winton, but has good starting stats and has won on the track before.
“He has an 80% chance of running away very well. The field wasn’t as strong last week as it was this week and 2600 suits him better than the mile. I would expect him to run in the money if he had a decent run.”
The three-year-old trotting filly The Will (Speeding Spur) takes her place in Race Two. After receiving an early check, she ran well on her last start in Waimate.
“I timed her in 59.2 on the grass for the last half and I was very happy with her. She got 20 meters short of the post at the end. She has worked well but is still a work in progress. I am part owner of Ridge in that race, who I assume will be the favorite and the hardest to beat. We have a chance of a place if we get a decent run.”
Negus has two runners in Race Three: Sky News (Sky Major) who draws six and Fox Terror (Terror To Love) who draws the outside of the second row.
Sky News was hampered early on her last start and was battling for fifth place.
“She has only had one trial (before her first start in this preparation) and I feel she has improved since then. She is not a winning prospect, but a realistic place prospect.”
Fox Terror was a competition in Kaikoura and finished second.
“I brought him in late because we’re trying to get him into the Harness 5000 and if he won a race he would be sure of it. I think he has a reasonable chance in that race. When do you get the chance to race an average three-year-old for $60,000 (Harness 5000) without the good guys there?
Mouton Cadet (Sir Lincoln) starts in Race Five. He has very good form and despite his wide draw he has early gate speed to become handy.
“He seems to do his best races when he’s crafty. Even though he can use his gate speed, he’s a tough old beggar and he’s gotten even tougher. The draw isn’t that bad and he really has great speed. I expect him to race craftily and be an every-way chance.”
Who does Negus think is the best choice for the stable?
“For the money he will probably pay, Foveaux Gambler, because he has a track record and has won a lot of money. He has been trained on the beach at Denis O’Connell’s for the last eight or nine days and they all seem to grow a leg when they are trained on the beach, especially those older horses.”
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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