Westport and Alexandra Park in Friday double-header

[Wandering Eyes]

Friday sees an unusual double-header with Westport getting underway at 1.56pm and an eight race card at Alexandra Park at 5.42pm. Sam Ottley returns to Patterson Park after her heroics there in December while Duchess Megxit, the 3YO Pacing Filly of the Year, starts a new campaign up north. 

Duchess Megxit returns after tough week for top trainer     

By Michael Guerin

Training legend Barry Purdon is hoping this weekend goes better than last and he has two of his stable stars with opportunities to put a smile back on his face.

The Hall of Famer had to watch his best horse Merlin miss making tomorrow’s Miracle Mile after a horror show of a prelude at Menangle last Saturday where he caused a false start and then paced a dazzling first 400m sectional before understandably fading out of the placings.

The night wasn’t a total write off for Purdon and training partner Scott Phelan as their under-rated pacer Sooner The Bettor qualified for the Miracle Mile with a prelude third, putting him in the red hot thriller at 11.45pm (NZ time) tomorrow night.

But while that gives him an opportunity to match or even go better than last year when Sooner The Bettor finished second to Leap To Fame, Purdon isn’t able to be at Menangle as he is in hospital.

He is having complications after having a hip replaced so needed to go back in for another operation last week.

“It hasn’t been a lot of fun but luckily we have good staff and of course Scott is over there (Sydney) with those horses,” says Purdon.

The stable were going to back Merlin up in a 2300m free-for-all tomorrow night, a race he actually won last year, but they have pulled the pin and will instead bring him home to prepare for his defence of the Cambridge slot race now known as The Race by Betcha.

“But we are still very happy to have Sooner The Bettor in the Miracle Mile. It is a great race that means a lot to us and he has a good draw so we think he will go well.”

Closer to home the stable will also launch the new season for their outstanding mare Duchess Megxit when she returns in the main pace at Alexandra Park tonight, the Warren Mathieson 60th Birthday Mobile Pace. 

Duchess Megxit was our best three-year-old pacing filly last season and will be given her first shot at the superstars of pacing on April 4 as she too is being aimed at the Race by Betcha, taking on Merlin and Leap To Fame.

That could ensure she draws the ace under the slot race conditions but while tonight’s field is much weaker than what she will face in a month she faces the tricky barrier in the 1700m mobile.

Duchess Megxit (R5, No.7) wasn’t asked to show her best at the Pukekohe trials last week and while she opened the $1.90 favourite for tonight’s sprint she was quickly backed into $1.65.

“It won’t be easy as she tends to be driven for speed and that will probably be the case this week,” said Purdon.

“And she will improve with the run.

“We also have Invisible in that race and he has been going well.”
 
Ohoka Connor is a pivotal rival tonight as he was heavily backed last week even though his trainer warned he could be a run short. That proved to be the case but he will strip a lot fitter and his $6.50 opening price for tonight was an over-correction.

Tonight’s black type trot named in honour of I Can Doosit sees Kyvalley Hotspur try to overcome a 30m handicap over 2200m, never easy at The Park, especially with plenty of good beginners in the race. 

If he can get the right drag into the race the backmarker can still win so the $2.50 the TAB bookies opened him at was fair and soon became $2.10.

Ottley returns to Coast with new mission 

By Mike Love 

Sam Ottley returns to the track where she created history today, with a number of good each way chances on Westport’s 11 race card at Patterson Park.

She had five winners on Boxing Day to claim a history-making 100 wins for 2024, the first time a female driver had done so in a 12 month season in this country.

Today will see two $20,000 features as well as plenty of interest around the four Team Teal races.

“It was great they got so many noms and were able to split the races. It’s great for the cause,” said Ottley. 

Team Teal, HRNZ’s annual campaign to raise funds for ovarian cancer research, started on February 1 and finishes in just over a week, on March 16. 

Ottley suggests Martha Stuart ($4.60FF) in Race 6, the TRT Builders Team Teal Trot over 2600m will be a leading chance. 

“She was good last start. She gets into the race well having won eight races. She should be a good top three show. There’s a couple there that go okay but she should be right in it.”

Race 7, the Jennian Homes Team Teal Pace over 2000m will see Francent strive for her third win from just five starts. Ottley says the Vincent mare will notice the rise in class but should hold her own in what is a deep field. 

“She’s only had a few starts. But she goes alright. The grass shouldn’t worry her. She just needs to get a good run. Her last win at Methven was really good.”

Tempo Warrior lines up in Race 9, the $20,000 Buller Chartered Accountants Kawatiri Handicap Pace over 2600m (6.28pm) and will offer more of the same for punters.

“He’s got great manners to put himself in the right spots. The draw is a little bit tricky. Hopefully we get a good run through early. He should run a good race.” 

Nellie Doyle ($3.80FF) in Race 10, the $20,000 Happy Birthday Pauline Rogers and Murray Acklin Handicap Trot over 2600m (7.04pm) will be a stern test for the six-year-old mare. 

“She’s done everything right to date. It’s a bit of a step up. She’s racing really good and hopefully she can keep the good form up.”

Ottley’s other drives are :

Race two – Moa Mojito ($41.00FF)

Race four – Amalfi ($20.00FF)

Race five – Franco Hoffman ($26.00FF) 

Race eight – Art’s Mischief ($17.00FF)

Race eleven – Rapid Response ($10.00FF)

Race one gets underway at 1:56pm, while the two features will go at 6:28pm and 7:04pm.

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