Abernethy hoping for a change of fortune with Atmosfear

Jay Abernethy is hoping a change in manners will bring a change in fortunes for Atmosfear, who he rates as his best chance of success at Cambridge Raceway tonight.

Abernethy lines up four runners across the harness racing programme, with Atmosfear and stablemate Stina Blackstenius both contesting Race 1, the Skyline Lounge Open All Race Nights Handicap Trot (2200m) – 6.37pm.

While Atmosfear, who Abernethy will drive himself, has struggled to put her best foot forward in recent outings, he believes there is plenty of ability there if she can get things right.

“I think she’s got more ability than the other one, but her manners have let her down to date.”

Asked to single out his best chance of the night, Abernethy didn’t hesitate to nominate Atmosfear.

“If she does things right, she should be thereabouts.”

She’s currently paying $41.

Stablemate Stina Blackstenius, who will be driven by Sailesh Abernethy, also looks capable of making her presence felt, having pleased the trainer with her recent performances.

“She has been actually racing quite good.”

With just two previous winners in the field, Abernethy believes she is well placed to be competitive, provided her manners hold up.

Later in the programme, Eagle Hanover will look to continue her consistent form in Race 4, the Dunstan Horsefeeds Handicap Trot (2200m), where junior driver Brooke Wilkins takes the reins.

“She’s been racing really well, she’s been a great horse for me.”

Abernethy is hoping to make the most of the junior driver concession, with the mare’s reliable manners another positive heading into the assignment.

“She’ll only have to go as good as she did last week to be thereabouts.“

Midfrew Lucre rounds out the stable’s representation in Race 5, the Book Your Xmas Function at Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace (2200m), with Abernethy also taking the drive.

Abernethy believes his last-start performance was better than the result suggests.

“Last start, he was actually really unlucky. We were three back on the fence and the plugs were never pulled, he ran out of room.”

Although stepping into stronger company than he faced in his latest amateur drivers’ assignment, Midfrew Lucre is no stranger to his opposition.

“I know it’s a bit stronger field than amateur, but he’s raced all those horses before and sort of held his own with them.”

Abernethy also has an outside drive aboard Keepers Tommy in Race 2, the Hire a Venue at Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace (2200m), with the pacer returning from a lengthy spell that had initially looked like retirement.

“He’s had a long layoff, like he was sort of semi-retired, and they brought him back into work.”

Having improved through his recent trials, Abernethy expects the gelding to benefit from the outing, although he isn’t ruling out a competitive showing first-up.

“If things go his way, it’s a small field, so he could be thereabouts on the right trip.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jordyn Bublitz for Harness Racing New Zealand