Trish Dunell
By Duane Ranger
Steve Telfer will train the winner of race two at Cambridge Raceway this Friday night.
The Australian-born and Ardmore-based horseman will also train the quinella, the trifecta, and the first four. He will also run last and second last.
Telfer has all six runners in the Dunstan Mobile for the R72 to R84 pacers. He said it was a unique situation that he had never encountered before.
“We had three in a few weeks back, but six, that’s virtually unheard of. It should be a good race. They are all good horses, and I think the race will be determined by the draw – especially over the 1700m mobile sprint journey,” Telfer said.
“It’s really hard to label one,” he added.
Four Butcher family members will do the driving in the $10,000 event for the three-year-old and over pacers.
“David has the first right of refusal on our horses here at Stonewall Stud. He gets first bite and then we get the rest. Andre (Poutama) and Ben (Butcher) have been doing a nice job for us and they also get the nod,” he said.
Ironically Telfer rated the Benjamin Butcher (j) driven Parker, in race one, as his best winning chance of the night.
Here’s what Telfer had to say about all eight of his prospects on Friday:
Race 1: Parker (4) - David Butcher - "Three-year-old colt taking on the older horses. He has only had a couple of starts this time in and he is better than what his form-line suggests. He has quite a bit of ability but is still learning. I've tightened up the hopples this week and I'm expecting a bold showing. He would be my best winning chance on Friday.”
Race 2: Triple Eight (1) R72 - Jack MacKinnon j – "He is a very nice horse who hasn’t done anything wrong in his career so far. I’m not sure if he has gate speed because he’s always drawn wide. He has the draw this time and should be hard to beat.”
Race 2: American Brave (2) R72 - Benjamin Butcher j – "He is another nice horse, who is on the way up. He last raced in Chase Auckland's Sires Stakes Final. Before that his form was sound. He has the draw to make his presence felt here. One for the future. First start at Cambridge.
Race 2: Dance Time (3) R74 - Philip Butcher - "Like the previous two, he's a three-year-old gelding. This fella possesses a lot of speed and should settle handy to the pace. He's in form and can get some of this."
Race 2: Rocknroll Princess (4) R78 - Zachary Butcher - "Five-year-old mare who has been disappointing this time in. Her last six starts have bean at Alexandra Park and Addington. She went one good race behind Star Galleria and not much since. She's older than most in the race and will be driven forward. She can make her presence felt in what appears to be a very even contest.”
Race 2: Step Up (5) R80 - David Butcher - "Four-year-old mare that has run some real good races in some real good fields lately. David has the pick of drives and he opted for this girl. She is a lovely horse. David’s choice should be the pointer here, despite the wide draw.”
Race 2: Valor Lustre (6) R84 - Andre Poutama - "Seven-year-old mare who will need luck from the widest draw over the sprint (1700m mobile) journey. She beat Dance Time and Parker from the eight draw here last start but this is going to be a lot tougher. She needed a better draw though and will be relying on a heap of luck in the running."
Race 6: Ivana Flybye (8) - Benjamin Butcher - "She's a nice filly that has also copped a tough draw over the 1700m. She has done a good job this time in and really hasn’t gone a bad race. Ben gets on good with her. She can win this if she gets some luck but from eight I think she is a better place prospect. She has a bright future because she has a klot of speed and bottom to her."
