By Jonny Turner
The southern harness racing scene could be even more important to Stonewall Stud after the MLT Gore Cup on Saturday (4.24pm).
Trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer go into the Gore Christmas Trots meeting as equal record holders for the most wins in a New Zealand harness racing season with Roy and Barry Purdon (1993-94).
The Stonewall Stud trainers have two chances to make the record their own and bag their 169th win of the year when Double Jeopardy and Slots start in the MLT Gore Cup.
The Telfer team have racked up plenty of wins in Southland this season – including their last three victories as they equalled the long-standing record of the Purdons on Invercargill Cup Day.
Punters are backing the stable to make history on Saturday with Double Jeopardy and Slots the first and second favourites for the MLT Gore Cup respectively.
With more racing under his belt and plenty of experience in country cups, the Stonewall camp feel the market has it right with Double Jeopardy rated the top pick.
“Double Jeopardy is pretty experienced in this grade now and he has the racing under his belt,” the stable’s number one reinsman Tim Williams said.
“His run in the Geraldine Cup was good behind The Lazarus Effect, and we have tried to be patient with him since then because this looks like quite a suitable race for him.”
Getting a handicap advantage over his main rivals, including his stablemate, looks to be the key to Double Jeopardy’s chances.
It’s an advantage the pacer is a good chance of maintaining early in the Gore Cup with his excellent standing start manners.
“He is generally pretty safe, not always the fastest, but fingers crossed he can get away nicely on Saturday.”
“If he does, I am sure he will go a pretty good race.”
While Slots may not have as much standing start experience as his stablemate, there is no doubting the pacer has the game to run a big race in the Gore Cup.
Slots missed away in his last standing-start run at the end of his last campaign, but placed in his prior two runs from behind the tapes in handy line-ups.
“He’s just had the one trial coming into this and you can’t beat race fitness.”
“But he seems well and the team have been happy with him.”
“He showed last time that he is up to this kind of company, so I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he went a nice race.”
Blair Orange will link up with Slots on Saturday.
Williams will also drive Party Up Denario and Stylish Lustre, who both look each-way threats on the Gore card.
To see the market for the Gore Cup click here
