Stable confident Star Galleria back on target

THE South Island campaign of leading northern pacer Star Galleria, who is preparing for the New Zealand Cup, is finally set to begin in the Methven Cup tomorrow.

The Steven Reidtrained pacer was to have started in last week’s Canterbury Classic at Addington but had to be scratched.

Star Galleria did not seem at his best which forced his caretaker trainer, Simon McMullen, to advise Reid to scratch the horse.

‘‘He’d obviously been racing very well up north but his pacing action wasn’t quite right and he had the odd wee niggle,’’ McMullen told NZ Harness News.

‘‘There was no issue with his fitness but we reasoned rather than racing him at Addington when he was only 90% right, it would be better to fix the problem and take him to Methven when he was 100%.

‘‘Steven came down this week [from Pukekohe] and his work was outstanding [on Wednesday] so we’re back on track.’’

Star Galleria shares the 30m backmark with the early New Zealand Cup favourite, Ultimate Machete, who looked badly in need of a race when fifth in the Canterbury Classic.

A G’s White Socks, who made a rare mistake at the start of the Canterbury Classic before recovering and going a good race, is a strong chance from the 20m mark.

Forgotten Highway looks clearly the best of the frontmarkers.

The Mitchell Kerrtrained 5yrold went down by only a nose to Dream About Me.