By Jonny Turner
Friends will become foes at Addington on Friday night.
Regan Todd and Craig Ferguson have enjoyed success together that many can only dream of over the past 12 months.
But this time, the two horsemen will go head-to-head in Friday night’s feature pace with Betterthancash and Da Vinci in Race 5, the Breckon farms Lot 1081 NZB Weanling Sale handicap pace (6.12pm). .
Betterthancash returns to the track for the first time since his outstanding win in a hectic running of the New Zealand Country Championship.
With more feature racing still a little way off for the pacer, Friday night’s clash is set to help determine the direction of his campaign.
“We’ll see how he goes and then make a bit of a plan,” Todd said.
“We could freshen him up and have a go at some of the early lead-ups to the (New Zealand Cup), or he could keep going a little bit longer.”
“We’ll see how he gets through this run and then take it from there.”
Not having raced since his big two-mile win means Betterthancash comes into Friday night’s assignment after a three-week break.
However, Todd feels the pacer is forward enough to run a strong race.
“We’ve kept him ticking over. This race came along, and we thought we’d have a crack at it.”
“We’ve found that he’s better when he’s had racing, but in saying that, he seems very well in himself and his work has been good.”
“Hopefully, he can go a nice race.”
Betterthancash starts on level marks with Da Vinci in Friday night’s feature pace.
Da Vinci was brilliant first-up in the Uncut Gems Classic, charging home from a hopeless spot to run fourth for the Ferguson stable.
In doing so, the pacer beat Betterthancash home — though his rival didn’t get much luck either, being buried on the markers during the running.
Ferguson goes into Friday night’s pleased with Da Vinci since that big fresh-up effort.
“He’s been working well — he seems as well as he’s ever been, really.”
“It could become a bit of a tactical race with the handicaps, but I think he has the speed to be a nice chance, however it works out.”
While Betterthancash ($3.60) and Da Vinci ($2.00) have headed early betting for Friday night’s race, it is far from a two-horse affair.
The Lazarus Effect will be looking to bounce back to form after a surprise defeat at Addington last week.
The pacer has the advantage of starting off the front line for trainer-driver Bob Butt, giving him a 25m head start on the two favourites.
The Lazarus Effect is proven from a standing start, having made a safe beginning in his win on New Zealand Cup Day last year.
