The scratching of TREACHEROUS BABY means even shorter odds for AKUTA in what looms as his first winning run in nearly two years at Alexandra Park tomorrow but it is no threat to her spring campaign.
“She developed a boot rub and she is fairly thin skinned so we had to scratch this time but there are no longer term problems” Nathan said.
Treacherous Baby is among those headed south next week for spring racing and came off Akuta’s back to run him down last time out in the hands of Harrison Orange. It was her first win since taking out the Nevele R Final at Addington in November last year for Harrison’s dad,Blair, and follows a frustrating run of minor placings for the Whitelock owned mare who will have several opportunities through the spring in the Woodland Mare’s Sprint Series and other features.
Her scratching and Akuta’s likely class margin over his rivals leaves most stable attention on MIDNIGHT MIKI and the two year old race where SPECIAL OCCASION, another on the first band of the southern invasion, has to be favoured over RIVER on the night.
“River is a nice filly and has the early speed to set up a bold race but Special Occasion should have the edge on the night. He has trialled and trained well and is out to justify his hopes in the big ones down south later on” Nathan said
Midnight Miki has come up well and while an improver he may prove too strong for his rivals tomorrow. He showed form in high company earlier.
“I think he is in for a good campaign.He has come back sharper than before and done everything right” Nathan said of the youngster southern bound next month.
Nathan had three at the trials midweek. MIDNIGHT BETTY a Braeden and Caroline Whitelock purchase, was solid and will go to the trials again next week. She is by Bettor’s Delight and a daughter of the Artsplace filly Amoretto Dream who trialled and qualified but did not race. Amoretto Dream was from the brilliant race filly Adios Dream,closely related to Courage Under Fire through her dam Deborah Dundee.The latter was a smart performer and would have won the initial West Coast Bonus for Kevin Townley except for the presence of a previously unknown Our Mana. She was the granddam of one time superstar and underrated sire Courage Under Fire. The family was established at top level by Queen Wrack who left the 1951 Inter Dominion Champion Vedette (Maurice Holmes) and the high class mare Democrat the latter operating constantly against the “boys” in the best classes in the 1950’s.
Her dam Entice was originally left unnamed but was hastily registered with the ongoing success of her family.
IMON who qualified last month will trial again in two weeks. A Vincent youngster from the smart race filly , Rozelski,he has an illustrious band of owners but may take longer to show his best
NANCY LATOUR won her trotting heat getting home nicely but the plan was to qualify and has to wait for another day.
“It was circumstances really.There was a three year old in the heat that we expected to want a strong run.Andre eased to trail because of that but then the pace came right out of the heat. She looks like measuring up in the age group races the way she is going” said Nathan of the two year old.
PIC: Midnight Miki doing the business at Addington earlier in the year.