Stable stars

An in-form stable is a punter's best friend, and at the moment trainer Shane Kennedy is pretty popular.

With two winners and as many placings at last weekend's Riccarton meeting, admirers of the Champagne Racing stables walked away with plenty in their pockets.

That roll looks set to continue today at Timaru as Kennedy lines up some handy runners, including two of his top performers, Mister Munster and Keep The Conflict.

Both runners drop back after racing against top South Island horses.

Mister Munster, a front-running speedster, looks well placed in the rating 75 1200-metre race.

With a good barrier draw and regular jockey Michelle Carston, he should be able to jump and run.

Kennedy said that he could not be more pleased with Mister Munster this season and was hoping for another good showing this week.

"He will love it this week," Kennedy said.

"I said before his race the other day that in the field that he was in if he was to weigh, I would be really happy, and he did," Kennedy said.

"He's not a superstar, but he is definitely an above-average horse which will win his share of races, and going on the way he has come through Saturday's run, I have to give him a really big show," he said.

Mister Munster meets another up and comer in three-year-old filly Miss Purrfection, which did not receive many favours when coming home fourth last weekend.

Keep The Conflict should also enjoy a drop back from metropolitan racing to the country tracks.

After winning at Cromwell and Gore this season, the Keeper colt was a good third at Ashburton.

He followed up with a fourth at Riccarton behind Jackson Jones, before being tripped up by a wet track.

"I thought he would win the day he ran fourth, so I was a wee bit disappointed, but on reflection it was a pretty good run," Kennedy said.

"He is no good in the wet, so just forget the last time he went around, but I think he has a pretty nice show this time."

The Kennedy stable will line up at least three other runners, with Halo Express needing scratchings to make the field in the first race.

Maiden runners Hula Howl, Cool Chatool and Halfyaluck make up the rest of the stables' assault on Phar Lap Raceway.

Kennedy believed all three had an outside chance of sneaking into the money.

- © Fairfax NZ News