Townley has Sheemon’s path plotted for new campaign
Kevin Townley is taking an – if aint broke don’t fix it – philosophy with star trotter Sheemon.
Plotting a racing path can be a timely process, but for Townley it was almost as simple as pulling out last year’s calendar and changing the year.
A four-time Group I winner, Sheemon will start favourite in Friday’s Ordeal Trotting Cup at Addington on the back of an impressive fresh-up win at the same venue last week.
Townley expects a length or two of natural improvement from the son of Monarchy’s first-up effort and feels the 6-year-old should be fighting out the finish despite starting from the outside of the mobile arm in the 2600m trot.
Sheemon’s recently completed super season netted three Group I wins and two seconds, helping him earn more than $225,000 and taking his overall record to 17 wins and 27 placings from 56 starts for more than $480,000.
But Townley has always believed six is the best year for a trotter.
‘‘I’m hopeful that he can be a length or two better this year and so far the signs are good. He’s in good order and looks stronger than ever,’’ Townley said.
Sheemon will contest the Ordeal, DG Jones and Canterbury Park Trotting Cups then the Ash- burton Trotters Flying Mile, Kaikoura, followed by the Cup week double of NZ Trotting freefor-all and the Group I Dominion Handicap.
That is a mirror image itinerary of last season.
‘‘Every start last year was in a big stakes race and it worked out to be a nice amount of starts for the season,’’ Townley said.
The only difference to last year’s New Zealand programme was last week’s start. Sheemon was fresh up when running second behind Clover Don in last year’s Ordeal.
Sheemon’s Australian trip will be abbreviated this season with the Great Southern Star and possibly one other race.
Townley said he will only cross the Tasman if he believes Sheemon is a genuine winning chance which seems likely.
Sheemon is raced by Townley’s wife Margaret and daughter Hayley Wall.