Ready to enhance

Graeme Anderson, the leading strike rate New Zealand trainer this season for those with more than 20 starters, will be out to enhance his record at Forbury Park on Thursday night with Delightful Jay (race 2), Hopes And Dreams (race 7) and Bakari (race 9).

 

Anderson advanced his score to 23 wins from 59 starters when Titan Banner and All Star Musician were successful at Wyndham last Saturday. His strike rate is .5273. Both those horses and stablemate Eamon Maguire are engaged at Invercargill on Saturday.

 

“I am happy with them all. Delightful Jay is an unknown having her first start for us,’’ said Anderson, who trains on the beach at Westwood, near Dunedin.

 

Bakari (race 9 )has been freshened since he last raced in December. He won at Forbury Park late in November in his first start from the Anderson stable. The runner up that night, Royal Bengal carried on to win at Gore and Roxburgh. Bakari was placed in his two subsequent starts in December before he was freshened.

 

Hopes And Dreams (race 7) was a winner two starts back at Waikouaiti then finished second to Break Dance at Winton. She has won at Forbury Park.

 

Her owners Neville Cleaver and Kevin Strong also have Gangnam Style in the race. Gangnam Style should be the better for his race at Wyndham last Saturday when he finished fifth after becoming awkwardly placed. He won a double at Forbury Park during the winter and carried on to win at Addington.

 

Delightful Jay, who has not raced since November, finished two and half lengths from Titan Banner in a two-horse trial at Forbury Park on February 18.

 

Brads Kenny (race 8), unbeaten in two starts at Forbury Park, is in the right order to extend his record there. The Phil Williamson-trained trotter has been minor placed in his three starts since he won at Forbury Park on February 2. He started a fresh campaign with a nine and three quarter length win at Omakau in January.

 

Brads Kenny has had his racing restricted to 11 starts by a knee ailment.

 

Bear’s Rest, who has won twice at Forbury Park, shares the 20m handicap with Brads Kenny.

 

The 3yr-old filly Madison Jane is among four horses Williamson has engaged in race 5. 

 

The others are Bobbins, Pyramid Monarch and Jeddy R Ya Reddy. Madison Jane was freshened after finishing third at Invercargill on January 28. She had won fresh up at Roxburgh earlier in the month after a win at Forbury Park in July.

 

The Williamson stable won heats  at the Washdyke trials on Wednesday with Pyramid Magic and Bet’s Commando.

 

The 3yr-old filly Bet’s Commando has not raced since July and Pyramid Magic has been off the scene since he won from a 60m handicap at Invercargill in November.

 

Trainer Aaron Swain has sounded a note of caution about Expresso Martini (race 10), a standout on form and assessment in the claiming race.

 

“He could be a run short but his class should carry him through,’’ said Swain, who took over Expresso Martini (11 wins) after he was successful in a claimer at Invercargill on January 23.  Expresso Martini ran fourth in a workout at Wyndham on February 4.

 

“A stone bruise popped out after his workout which could have accounted for his showing. He had to miss a week’s work.”