Alexandra Park has been allocated only five meetings until the end of the season in the draft calendar.
Auckland does the leg work to prove horse numbers warrant more racing at the Park
By Barry Lichter • 22 April 2020
The Auckland Trotting Club has produced evidence it can race every week at Alexandra Park, after canvassing most trainers in the north.
The club was disappointed at being allocated only five dates through June and July in the draft calendar released yesterday for the remainder of the season.
Instead of racing most Friday nights, Auckland is set to only alternate weekly with Cambridge on not so lucrative Thursday and Wednesday nights.
ATC vice president Jamie MacKinnon says the calendar places trainers and owners in the north at a clear disadvantage when the numbers support more regular racing.
Jamie MacKinnon … leg work revealed an ample supply of horses in the north.MacKinnon called 28 trainers in the Auckland region to discover how many horses each would have ready to race come June, July and August if training is allowed, as anticipated, once the country moves to alert level 3 on Monday night.
He discovered 97 horses would be fit enough to race in June, enough he says for at least a seven or eight-race card at Alexandra Park every week.
“And in July there’ll be another 75 ready so we’ll be in clover.”
The trainers named a further 48 horses whom they expect to be ready by August and another 11 in September.
“And those figures don’t include 68 new qualifiers. There’ll be one ready in May, 34 in June-July, 21 in July-August and 12 in August-September.”
MacKinnon says he has the details of all horses’ ratings so competitive cards can be assembled.
“Clearly the people who have drawn up this calendar haven’t had information like this. We don’t know who they consulted. I wonder if they even know what the numbers are in Waikato?”
Edward Rennell, chairman of RITA’s dates committee.MacKinnon pointed to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s release yesterday which stated it had contacted 55 trainers nationwide before framing its new season calendar.
MacKinnon says he has no doubt now that, boosted by horses travelling from Waikato, Auckland would be able to regularly programme attractive betting fields.
He favoured mile racing in the early stages which would enable horses to back up more easily.
ATC president Rod Croon would be presenting Auckland’s case to the chairman of RITA’s dates committee Edward Rennell to try to get the draft dates amended, he said.
The closing date for consultation is April 28 and Rennell, formerly CEO at Harness Racing New Zealand for nearly 22 years, said he expected the calendar to be finalised by May 4.
Northern trainers, with the horse numbers they can supply, are:
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
