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Bit Of A Yarn

Next Level set for top resumption at Addington


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By Michael Guerin

Steven Reid isn’t doubting Next Level’s class when he resumes at Addington tonight but he admits he isn’t so sure about his preparation.

The smart four-year-old is a $2 favourite in the SBSR Tuapeka Lodge/Russell Nevill Mobile Pace at a meeting that will start earlier than scheduled so it can finish inside daylight hours as Addington beds in its new lighting system.

Next Level hasn’t officially raced since finishing fourth in the New Zealand Derby on this track in early December, that form usually an indication a horse is heading to the verge of open class.

He has actually tried to start in a race since, lining up at Motukarara on December 29 but was knocked over at the start and deemed a non-starter.

Reid says he gave the speedy pacer a 10-day break after that and had only intended on trialling him this week.

“But when I looked at the programmes for next week they didn’t really cater for him in a mobile race so I have bought everything forward a week,” says Reid.

“He was going to trial but I didn’t get a chance to do that.

“I took him to Rangiora for fast work the other day and he worked well so he can win this week but I told the owners he can’t be at his peak.”

Reid thinks Next Level will end up edging his way toward the big time but he has struggled with tying up issues with him.

“Tying up problems are something I haven’t had much experience with but I have changed his training and think we should be fine now.”

While it only contains seven runners Race 4 has plenty of talent, with fast mare Amaretto Franco looking certain to enjoy being back at Addington after not handling the southern tracks during her holiday campaign.

She too could be an improver after tonight’s run so for a small field, with questions over two of the better horses, it could be an open race.

A horse Amaretto Franco looks set to meet if not next week at some stage this campaign is Princess Meritaten, who was scratched from her engagement at Addington last Friday.

Trainer Bob Butt had no choice but to pull her out of the Premier Mares Championship after he treated her for a skin infection but she was back at the trials on Wednesday.

“She trialled well and hasn’t missed any work so we will still be all go for the Breeders Stakes next week,” says Butt.

“She is unbeaten fresh so maybe it isn’t a bad thing going into next week that way.”

Butt has the hottest favourite of the night tonight in Pandemic (R7, No.1) and the five-year-old looks to have found the right race to resume in.

“It is not a strong field so he really gets his chance,” says Butt.

He also has stable newcomer Imperial Laz (R2, No.1), a recent purchase for huge-spending Australian owner Mick Boots.

“His form was okay down south but he doesn’t have a lot of standing start practice so I think he will be better for this outing.”

The first race today goes at 3.44pm

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