Cambridge lost its Jewels day but is shoring up stakes for its remaining five meetings of the season.
Cambridge tops up stakes to $7500 for the rest of the season and retains incentives
By Barry Lichter • 12 May 2020
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Harness will top up all stakes for the rest of the season to $7500, barring amateur races which will be run for $7000.
Under the recently released funding model, Cambridge has been allocated $7200 per race, but President Graham Bowen says the club believes setting a flat stake is the fairest way of returning the maximum amount to industry participants.
Graham Bowen … fairest way.The revised stake will also reflect the new rating points matrix whose lower stake threshold is to be set at $7500.
Cambridge will continue paying the incentive payment of $1750 to the connections of horses who win twice on the track during the season, providing they had already won before lockdown.
The $10,000 Dunstan Horse of the Year Series will continue. The owners of the horse with the highest points after the last meeting of the season will receive $4000 and the trainer a $3000 product prize. The trainer of the horse with the next most points will win a $2000 product prize and the trainer of third, a $1000 product prize.
Points leaders are: Lovely Bundy (24), Lukyanova (22), American Me and Flying Steps (19), Jingles Bromac (18), Still Eyre and Delson (17).
The club has five dates until the end of the season with its first an eight-race programme starting at noon on Sunday, May 31.
More news in Harness
The dream’s alive but Nate tells why he’ll wait for ‘Harry’ before racing Eric again
Ray gives reformed Rascal his ‘most likely to succeed’ report from the pole on Friday night
Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“He didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
