Different expectations for Telfer’s star pair

Two star stablemates, two wide draws but probably two different outcomes.

That is the most likely scenario harness racing trainer Steve Telfer is expecting when he takes a pair of high class three-year-old pacers to Alexandra Park tonight.

Telfer has Allamericanplayer (R6, No.7) and Ride The Waves (R8, No.8) back at The Park as they warm up for the riches of black type racing in the months ahead.

Allamericanplayer (Bettor’s Delight) is already proven at the highest level, having won the Group 1 Welcome Stakes at Addington 16 months ago and earlier this season it took Jumal to beat him in the Northern Derby.

But as talented as he is and even after winning a recent workout, Telfer warns punters to be careful with the strapping pacer tonight.

“We are really happy with how he has come back and think he will be in for a better campaign than last time in, when a few things didn’t go his way,” says Telfer.

“But he is a big strong colt now and has a big barrel on him.

“Because of that I think Friday’s run will bring him on and I wouldn’t be surprised if he got beaten.

“Of course he can win but I don’t think he can be at his peak fitness yet.”

If Allamericanplayer is to be vulnerable in his comeback race the most likely beneficiary would be War Party, who has won three of his four starts and is the latest flyer from the superstar broodmare Democrat Party, who has also left Republican Party and Tour Party.

War Party is still very much learning but he paced 2:38.2 for 2200m mobile at Cambridge last start and if he performs to that level tonight he is the horse to beat.

While Allamericanplayer’s waistline is putting some doubt in Telfer’s mind tonight he is more confident with Ride The Waves even though she has drawn the outside of the front line in her Nevele R Filllies heat.

Ride The Waves (Downbytheseaside) has shown real X-factor in just five starts and perhaps more importantly for those who back her tonight the ability to come from off the speed and wide to win races.

Telfer says she has options over the 1700m tonight.

“She is a really good filly and a versatile one,” he explains.

“She has the speed to go forward at the start if Maurice [McKendry] wants to or she can go back and move mid-race.

“She hasn’t raced for a while either but she is really well and fit enough to win so she will be hard to beat.”

There is talent in the heat though, with Fly High (No. 2) having already beaten Ride The Waves while Alecto was third fresh-up in a fast time so can also test the favourite.

Team Telfer unleash a very promising debutante in Tactico (R1, No.2) in tonight’s Sires’ Stakes Trot but he meets perhaps the best of his crop in Duke of Bourbon.

“He has been faultless in his trials so far and we think a lot of him but obviously it won’t be easy against the favourite.”

Tonight’s card also contains some smart juveniles taking on older pacers in Race 5, a strong intermediate mobile trot as Race 7 and two promising young trotters in Franco Ronaldo and Micky Hill in the last race.

To see the Auckland fields click here

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand