Two of Hope’s charges look set to get back on track
GREG Hope had two openclass reasons to smile yesterday.
And that could mean the long wait for champion trotter Monbet to return to the track is almost over.
Hope not only trains Monbet, but New Zealand Cup contender A G’s White Socks. They are coming off setbacks of wildly different lengths.
Monbet has not raced for 23 months after an array of leg issues, while A G’s White Socks was dragged off the track minutes before Sunday’s Methven Cup after soft tissue damage believed to have been suffered in a raceday slip.
But the news is good for both. Monbet made one of his first public appearances since winning the Dominion two years ago when Hope put him on to the Rangiora track for a workout yesterday.
There was nothing official about it. Monbet worked solo over 2600m, but it was as good as a trial and a big step in the right direction. He trotted 3min 24sec for 2600m, his last 800m in 60sec and final 400m in 28sec, and pulled up sound.
‘‘It was nice work and showed he is ready for a trial next week and then the races at Addington on November 2,’’ Hope said.
‘‘After that, all going well, we will aim him at the Trotting Free-For All on Cup Day [November 13].’’
Hope and wife Nina pulled Monbet out of the November 17 Dominion, New Zealand’s richest trotting race, as they thought they could not get enough race mileage for him in time for the tough 3200m.
‘‘And we want to do the right thing by the horse. He has won it before and it is a long season, so we didn’t want to rush him.’’
A G’s White Socks is improving after his setback and has been accepted for Monday’s Flying Stakes at Ashburton and looks 90% likely to start.
‘‘What happened last Sunday was very strange. I actually worked him the morning of the race and he was great; then we put him away for a while before taking him to the races.
‘‘During that break I think he must have slipped and hurt himself a little bit. There was no sign of it at the races until he started to warm up and we had to pull him off the track. But I am confident we are over that now and can still get the racing into him he needs for the New Zealand Cup.’’
Monday’s 2400m stand looks the most important New Zealand Cup leadup of the season with big names headlined by Dream About Me (barrier 1), Eamon Maguire (2), Ultimate Machete (7) and Star Galleria (8). A G’s White Socks will start from barrier 9, all going to plan.
In the Flying Mile, Harriet Of Mot (barrier 2, but likely to start from 1) and Great Things Happen (likely barrier 2) have got the best draws in what is traditionally New Zealand’s fastest openclass trotting mile. — NZME