Pocket rocket American Dealer super at the workouts and will be white hot in small field

He’ll be at prohibitive odds and you’ll have to wait until the last race but American Dealer looks the bet of the night at Alexandra Park on Friday.

The little pocket rocket faces only six rivals, four of which are rated in the 60s, and only Dance Time looks likely to test him.

Dance Time led and beat American Dealer the last time they met but Lincoln Farms’ headliner paced a slippery 55.7 in coming from the rear 600 metres out, forced four wide round a much bigger field on the home turn before powering home for second.

It was also his lead-up run to the New Zealand Derby at Addington which was a non event after he had to go back from a wide second row draw and spent the last half of the race solo and three wide trying to make up ground on Krug.

American Dealer has had an easy time since then but showed he had lost little of his fitness at the Pukekohe workouts last Saturday when he ripped home in 57.9 and 26.8 for driver Zachary Butcher to beat stablemate Tommy Lincoln by one and a quarter lengths.

“He went super ,” said trainer Ray Green. “He switched off a bit once he headed them and Zac didn’t push him out.

“Dance Time is the main danger but on paper American Dealer is the one to beat.

“His main mission is the Jewels so he’s not screwed right down - we want him firing on June 6 - but this doesn’t look too hard.

“The race will improve him but he’s the best horse in the race and he’s the one they’ve got to beat.”

Arden’s Horizon … smart winner at Auckland in March before trekking to Addington. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.American Dealer’s Addington companion Arden’s Horizon also resumes in the third race. He also trialled nicely at Pukekohe last Saturday, making the pace before being pipped a nose and a head by Sires Stakes heat winner Major Perry and Young Guns Final winner Montana DJ.

“It’s a bit of a step-up for him and a harder ask against older horses but it will be interesting to see how he handles it.

“He beat only one in the Welcome Stakes at Addington but it was a weird race, they walked and only sprinted up the straight. All he could do was hold his place.”

Arden’s Horizon is drawn to get a perfect trip from the pole and is only one placing away from qualifying for the Two-Year-Old Emerald at Cambridge next month.

Sugar Apple, fifth in the same workout heat last Saturday, resumes from a three month break in the sixth race.

The promising Sweet Lou colt has had two workouts to fit him and Green is looking forward to seeing how much improvement he has made since his first two-start campaign.

“He was a little weakling last time in and still lacks a bit of strength but he’s got raw ability.

“There don’t look to be any champions in there so I’m hoping he can win but he’ll need an economical trip. If he gets away with a good sit he’s a chance but if he has to do it tough from gate six he couldn’t win.

“It will be up to Zac to decide whether to launch at the start or go back.”

Three-year-old revelation Louie The Punter shoots for a hat-trick in the fifth race, where he has drawn to lead again, but meets much better rivals than he has been beating.

“He’s done well to come from maidens to this in the last two weeks but this will be a good test for him as it’s a step-up.”