Mark is happy going into the Ashburton meeting on Monday if not as bullish about immediate results as in some past years of Ashburton spring meetings.
The reasons are partly gates and partly interruptions to preps. So in most cases it is not a concern about fitness so much as about the extent of it.
The Flying Stakes in particular used to be a target race for the Purdon stable Cup hopes whereas it is more of a step forward this year for both Akuta and Chase a Dream and smaller numbers have lowered the impact status of the meeting.But it is still an important step forward
A look at the lineup
1.17pm Sires Stakes Heat 1700m
River (ballot)
Wat Next (second row 2) $8.50.
Alecto (sr 4) $5.50
Mark: “It’s not a good setup for ours at the gates. ALECTO won an early heat and has had to battle outside second row gates ever since.The problem is there are no other races really suitable for her. It is really tough to win off the second line when it is such a short race. In the longer ones they usually back off at some stage and you get a chance to go around but if you do that anyway and they don’t back off you end up in no man’s land. So I would rate WAT NEXT as our best. She will need some luck early but she has gone the right way and will go well.I think Barry’s horse (War Cry) is hardest to beat.Nathan’s (Williamson) filly is good too but first up so we don’t know a lot about her fitness level.”
1.51.Gallagher 3yo 1700
Rubira (6) $5
Mark: “Nathan and I talked about it and decided to take the winkers off.Got the Chocolates will beat him out anyway and he hopefully can get a sit in behind them. The small field suits Marketplace too. Rubira had a blood that was not great and while over that now I wouldn’t be getting into battles for the front with him. I think he will go well but be better again for the run.
3pm Ladies Sprint 1700
Treacherous Baby (4) $5.50
Mark: “She has a nice gate and is racing well. Last time she drew 8 at Addington and I went back and the way the race panned out I had to take my chances through the field and she did it well. We are happy with her and it is her chance if she can benefit from the good gate.It’s that sort of race for a few of them.”
4.45 Sires Stakes Heat 1700
Special Occasion (4) $8.50
Mark: “To be honest I am not entirely sure where we are with him.He has had his excuses and been treated for the problems but when we left Auckland I rated him up with the best in potential and he hasn’t quite done it down here. His work is ok and he seems good in himself now but raceday will be the test. More hopeful than confident at this stage.”
5.17 Ashburton Flying Stakes 2400
Akuta (2) $5.50
Chase a Dream (unruly) $11
Mark: “CHASE A DREAM will need the run and the Junior Free for All on Cup Day is the aim with him. AKUTA is thriving and I like to think he is about 85 per cent there,perhaps 90. He is good from a stand so should get the right trip. He will definitely go to Kaikoura now whatever happens tomorrow and only lack of race condition after his little setback is the worry. He has the class to be in it with the right run but he will improve.
Mark is having a great run with free lance drives and has ARAFURA as the $4 favourite in race 8 a Nevele R filly heat for Hayden and Amanda Cullen whom he knows quite well.
“I don’t know a lot about her history but she went a top race last time I thought and on that she would go close here.”
PIC: Chase a Dream is back in action after a long absence. And will need the run Mark says