By Michael Guerin
The path to us finding out just how good Jumal really is starts at Addington tonight.
And that could range from a very good early season juvenile to an actual superstar and genuine elite level pacer.
The Steven Reid-trained colt resumes in the $14,000 Tabak Business Sales and Vivace 2YO Mobile Pace (7.28pm) tonight that bats far above its stake level, with stunning debut winner Zeus Lightning, four reps from Team Telfer and the Regan Todd-trained Stumblin In also engaged.
So we might know a fair bit more about this juvenile pecking order after tonight.
But going into the race Jumal must hold top billing after an unbeaten three runs in his first campaign including a demolition job in the Group 1 Diamond Creek Farm Classic at Invercargill in April.
Since the harness racing season was changed to the calendar year the early season juvenile form, at least at the highest level, has usually carried over pretty well to the second half of the season and that would appear to have been the case the way Jumal trialed at Rangiora last week.
He smashed a very good three-year-old filly in General Jen by six lengths in his second trial back suggesting he is more than ready for his comeback tonight.
Trainer Steven Reid knows his colt is ready but he also knows the second half of the season presents new challenges.
“He has been very good but we don’t know the class of what he has beaten yet,” says Reid.
“He is in a good field this week and I was very impressed by Zeus Lightning when he won on debut.
“All I can say is our horse is well and ready to race and I will leave the driving tactics up to Sam [Ottley].”
With so much depth in tonight’s small field it could have a major impact on the markets for the better two-year-old races later in the season, with attention also on how Andretti handles his assignment against the older horses at Alexandra Park tonight.
A team worth following in the other races at Addington tonight could be Diamond Racing, or as they are more often known Robert and Jenna Dunn.
Driver and quasi co-trainer John Dunn is still buzzing after a working holiday in North America where he drove at the Meadowlands and The Red Mile for a second and a fifth.
“We had a wonderful time, great weather and great people but now we are looking forward to the spring racing here,” says John.
The stable had a quieter start to the year than previous seasons but have good representation across the meeting tonight.
“I think things are turning the corner and while we have some horses on tough marks we also have some horses who can win a few shortly,” he told HRNZ.
“We have three in the last race on Friday and I think Candy Cane (R9, No.4) could actually be the best chance of them.
“Rustenburg (R3) won really well last time but still comes in well in this ratings band while Miki’s Courage could be a good each way chance in Race 6.”
The stable have Dance Till Dawn and Always B You in tonight’s mares feature (8.23pm) which is a good form lead-up to what will be a hot mares series ahead over the spring.
“Always B You just keeps getting better and has to be hard to beat but it is a good field with mares like Akatea and Lakelsa in there so it should be a good race and these mares are going to provide some top racing in the next few months.”