By Michael Guerin Three favourites, three different states of readiness. That sums up the powerful Barry Purdon/Scott Phelan assault on Addington tonight as the open class pacing season steps up a gear in the $60,000 Lamb and Hayward Canterbury Classic (9.35pm). The stable have their elite pacers Merlin and Sooner The Bettor in the capacity field, up against Republican Party, We Walk By Faith and Alta Meteor, so basically all the local New Zealand Cup-winning chances aside from Akuta, who is sidelined this week. The northern stable also have our…
Day: 17 October 2025
Manners key for Pantani in Metro Heat tonight
By Michael Guerin Patience rather than panic is the key to finally getting the best out of frustrating trotter Pantani. The four-year-old heads to Alexandra Park tonight for Race 2, the Garrards Pesticides Northern Metro Trotters Heat (6.19pm) that he would almost certainly win if he raced up to his best form. He did that for the first time in a year four starts ago and thrashed a similar field by 10-and-a-half lengths at The Park but he has galloped in all three starts since. Trainer-driver David Butcher says Pantani…