Waikato partners preparing Charge Forward

A daring plan from Waikato trainers Graeme Rogerson and Steven Reid paid instant results at Forbury Park last week.

Charge Forward, one of the five horses the training partnership sent to the South Island, won on debut at the Dunedin track last Thursday night and set a New Zealand record in the process.

That same pool of five horses  - Dealornodeal, Gold Ace, Chocolate Brownie and Topnotch Dream as well as Charge Forward - all race at Addington tonight and Reid is confident of further success.

Charge Forward and Gold Ace have the biggest assignments, taking on some of the better South Island two-year-olds in the $40,000 PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales Southern Graduate.

Raced by an Auckland Trotting Club Syndicate, Charge Forward made a big impression when winning in a 1:56 mile rate at Forbury Park last week.

He is drawn the second line tonight but Reid believes he is again a leading chance for southern reinsman Nathan Williamson.

''He has really improved with that run and I am quite confident. He's just a nice little horse that has come ahead in leaps and bounds,'' Reid said.

Stablemate Gold Ace had impressive northern trial form and was the better fancied of pair last week but he could only manage 11th place, beaten six lengths.

Reid feels he can bounce back this week.

''He didn't disappoint me last week. I got shuffled back and it was race over. I think he can punch through on Friday night and get in the race.''

Proven three-year-old trotter Chocolate Brownie has a tough assignment taking on unbeaten southern filly Shezoneoftheboyz over the sprint trip from a mobile.

But he was impressive at Addington a fortnight ago, winning the $82,875 Listed Yearling Sales Series Trotters Final in easy fashion.

''It will actually be a good contest. My guy has really gone on and improved. Four months ago he was 50-50  to trot but now he feels as though he has become real solid. I will probably be guided by what happens out of the mobiles with breakers.''

Fillies Dealornodeal and Topnotch Dream take on freakish Mosgiel squaregaiter The Fiery Ginga, a winner of 14 races already as well as the likes of Vulcan, Confused Superstar, stakes-winning Continental Auto and last year's Harness Jewels winner Jinja Gal in the three-year-old trot.

Maiden trotter Dealornodeal had her first win all sewn up at Forbury Park last week before galloping inside the final 200m and losing her chance, while Topnotch Dream was second to Chocolate Brownie last start.

''They're not out of it. Dealornodeal on ability is the better of the two but she is not 100 per cent organised yet and will be better in 12 months time,'' Reid said.

''If she does everything right, she has got the ability to figure in finish. Topnotch has really improved down south and I am happy with where she is at. Chocolate Brownie was struggling to get near her in work this week. The 1950m is going to be her go, too.

''She over raced last start and Craig Thornley was of the opinion that if she settled, she could have beaten Brownie.''

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