Expect improvement from the big guns

Class could prevail but we can expect Merlin, Better Knuckle Up, Meant To Be and Higher Power to improve after they race at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

That’s the word from Scott Phelan who trains in partnership with Barry Purdon.

The barn has two runners, Higher Power (Father Patrick) and Meant To Be (Father Patrick)in the main trot of the night over 2200 metres.

Higher Power starts off the ten metre mark.

“He’s working along good and has had just the one trial but it was a decent enough hit out. He won’t be too far away, but obviously he’ll keep on improving the more racing he does,” said Scott.

He’ll be handled by Harrison Orange.

Meant To Be has also had just one workout and will start off 20 metres.

“He’s working up good but with the twenty metres handicap it won’t be easy. As long as he’s hitting the line good, we’ll be pretty happy with that.”

Zachary Butcher will handle Meant To Be and Phelan says Higher Power fresh up is probably the better bet.

“Just with the ten metre advantage.”

In Race Seven the IRT Spring Cup Handicap, the barn has three runners, Better Knuckle Up (Bettor’s Delight), Jeremiah (Lazarus) and Merlin (Art Major).

Better Knuckle has had two trials and Phelan is happy with where he’s at.

“He seems good. He’s had those two trials and he’s been stepping away good so far, touch wood. If he does the same (on Friday) he won’t be far off.”

Harrison Orange takes the drive.

Jeremiah has had four starts this campaign and Phelan says he’ll have a race fitness advantage.

“It probably puts him in the box seat out of the three. He’s got to go away first to take advantage of that. He got away quite quick at Cambridge but he was hit or miss before that. If he hits we’ll be alright.”

Scott will drive Jeremiah.

Star pacer Merlin resumes after last racing at Cambridge in ‘The Race’ in April. He has history against him, as no horse has won the Spring Cup from the twenty metre handicap.

“He’s got to be driven for one run first up. His trials have been good, his work has been good and he’s looking great, but he’ll keep on improving. He won’t be far away because he’s a good horse.”

Last year starting off 20 metres, Merlin ran third just over two lengths from the winner Sooner The Better and the year prior off the same mark he got within a neck of Sooner The Better.

On Friday night the stable has two runners in Heat Three of the Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes – Dino (Bettor’s Delight) and Bamm Bamm (Talk Dark Stranger).

At his last start Dino got back in the running and ran home nicely for third.

“It was a good run. (He) made up a bit of ground and got to the line quite good.”

Dino will be driven by Zachary Butcher and gets the one marble.

“It helps a lot drawing there. He’s got pretty good gate speed so he’ll hold his own. Zac will decide what to do from there.”

Bamm Bamm also draws nicely at three and will be handled by Harrison Orange.

“He’s a nice enough horse, probably not up to the speed of the early ones at the moment.”

Chanel Noire (Captain Crunch) lines up in Race Four and she also has a nice draw at one.

“It’s the best draw she’s had in a fair while so she won’t be without a chance.”

She’ll be driven by junior driver Brooke Wilkins.

In Race Six the $100,000 Group One Caduceus Club Two Year Old Fillies Classic, As One Wishes (Bettor’s Wish) runs for the barn.

“She didn’t have too much luck last time, but the first two fillies home last week (Daisy Bay and Belle Biddy) are probably the pick of the bunch. She’ll need a bit of luck and will probably be driven that way. Hopefully the luck comes her way and she can get some of the money.”

Zachary Butcher will drive the filly.

“We’ve got the Holmes DG in a fortnight and we’ll decide after that what we take on the southern trip. Merlin will definitely go down but we’ll make a decision after that race with the other two. The two open class trotters are definitely going. Duke Of Bourbon goes down next week and possibly Dino depending on how he goes this week.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink