Top chances face wide barrier draw

BY GARRICK KNIGHT

The three Waikato fillies in the Gr I $150,000 Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park tonight must overcome the three worst draws possible.

All three fillies - A New Sensation, Sixpence and Flying Pocketlands - are trained by Graeme Rogerson and Steven Reid out of the dual stable operation's Tuhikaramea base.

In what was a unique final lead-up for a Gr I race, Flying Pocketlands went around on the same track on Tuesday running home from last on the bend for seventh in a $4500 two to four win pace with Reid as her driver.

Last year's Gr I Caduceus Club Classic winner was in dire need of the hitout, according to Tuhikaramea stable foreman Tommy Cowan.

"We gave her a break and have been a little bit behind the eight-ball for the Oaks since then," he said.

"We threw her in on Tuesday to give her a run and let her run home strongly, which she did. But she was entitled to as it was a weak field. She is probably still our best show despite her draw."

Sixpence, Gr I-placed and a Listed winner last year, has not raced since December 31, and has had only a trial at Pukekohe last week to get her ready.

In that affair, Sir Lincoln and Russley Rascal ran the quinella, coming home in a hand-timed 25.8 seconds off the front.

"She's not quite fit enough to be put in the race, so we have to hope they ran it along at a good speed," Cowan said.

A New Sensation is the unknown quantity, having won three of her five runs at the outposts of Thames and Otaki.

"We have always thought a bit of her but rather than take her to Auckland, Graeme decided to send her down south as we are trying to win the premiership.

"People look at her form and say she has only won at Otaki but I think she could easily have been racing at Auckland and winning. If she could run in the first four or five that would be a great result."

The stable's only other entrant on the night is two-year-old Mighty Flying Thomas in the $40,000 PGG Yearling Sales Graduate.

He won his second start at Alexandra Park impressively and Cowan hoped he could utilise his good draw to advantage tonight.

"I'd like to see him with a sit. He has been either parked or in front in his racing to date. If you put something in front of him, he follows all day. He's good enough to win."

Cowan reported that the stable's well-performed trotter Cornishman was sold to American interests last month.

* Todd Mitchell's late Christmas present got granted at the wire last Saturday night when Baileys Dream won a ballot for the last spot in Sunday's A$1 million Interdominion Final.

Baileys Dream ran 4th in his heat and initial television observations implied he would not make the final.

But some favourable results meant he was tied for 10th with Victorian Sammy Maguire, both with a 3rd and a 4th from the heats.

A ballot was held and Baileys Dream's name was drawn out of the envelope.

Mitchell says he found out via text message at 1am; about the only time ever he was happy to get a text at that time of the night.

Baileys Dream is one of six kiwi horses in the final, and is drawn six, one outside stablemate Monkey King an inside fellow kiws Changeover, Bondy and Mr Feelgood.

* On the same card on Sunday, northern driver Roydon Downey will attempt to become the Australasian Junior Drivers' Championship winner when he contests the final heat after a week of competition. At the time of print, only one race had been held, at Menangle on Tuesday, where Downey's charge was scratched and he jumped on the first emergency, finishing sixth.

Christchurch driver Dexter Dunn ran a narrow second behind Gareth Rattray (2005 champion), while the third Kiwi entrant, the now Perth-based Reon Tither, was fifth.

Downey had two fair drives at Penrith last night, including a 60-start maiden but is down for a quality drive in the only heat at Harold Park tonight.

He pilots the David Aiken-trained On Any Day, winner of three of his last four starts, and starts from barrier two.

Dunn gained a special exemption to miss tonight's heat and return to Auckland for six drives, including Bettor's Strike, Hip Hop Anvil and Touch Of Rose in the Gr I Northern Oaks.

Dunn flies back to Australia for two heats at Newcastle tomorrow night.

Downey seems to have got the plum drives again, having secured Keltic Mission - winner of his last three starts - in the first heat and Armageddon Flame - a winner of eight of his 18 runs - in the second.

On Sunday, Dunn will pilot On Any Day (Downey's drive on Friday night) at Menangle on the Interdominion Final undercard, while Downey pilots the in-form Apollo Drive, a 16-win seven-year-old.

- © Fairfax NZ News