By Jordyn Bublitz
Trainer Fred Mitchell has made the trip to Palmerston North plenty of times before — but today’s Manawatu meeting has a bit of everything with three of his runners set to go around.
First up is Cathy Freeman in Race 1, the Te Kawau Mobile Pace. The four-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou steps out for just her second run this campaign after a long break, and while her first-up effort at Cambridge on October 23 didn’t catch the eye, her trainer wasn’t discouraged in the slightest.
“She went well in my opinion,” Mitchell said. “She just wasn’t quite ready, I only took her up there for a run and they went a bit quick for her after 11 months off. She should improve and go better today.”
That outing was very much a fitness run, and with a softer assignment closer to home, Mitchell is hoping to see a more polished version of the mare this time around.
In Race 3, the The Braig Handicap Trot, Mitchell lines up one of the more unpredictable characters in his barn, Manchester In Time.
The five-year-old Peak gelding is the sort of horse who can look a world-beater one week and an also-ran the next, something his trainer knows all too well.
“He’s a little prick,” Mitchell said with a laugh. “When he wants to run he’ll run, and when he doesn’t, he doesn’t. I wouldn’t put the house on him, because you never know what version of him we’re going to get on the day.”
The gelding does face a tough task off a 50-metre handicap, but there are positives heading into today.
“We did find out he’s been a wee bit sore for his last few starts,” Mitchell explained. “But he seems to have come through the other side of that really well.”
Mitchell’s final runner, and the one he’s most hopeful about, is Nelson’s Boy in Race 6, the Congratulations 500 Winners Stephen Doody Mobile Pace. The nine-year-old Washington VC gelding comes south off a gritty last-start win at Alexandra Park, where he zipped home in a sharp 56.6-second last half.
“He’s a good wee fella,” Mitchell said fondly. “I thought I might try him again at Palmy, he doesn’t really like going round left-handed, but I’ve adjusted a few things with him and I’ll just be keeping my fingers crossed he’ll get around that way.”
All 10 of Nelson’s Boy’s career wins have come at Auckland’s right-handed track, but that hasn’t dampened Mitchell’s enthusiasm. “He’s a funny sort of a horse but he’s done a good job for us, we certainly can’t complain.”
Whether it’s Cathy Freeman taking a step forward, Manchester In Time deciding today’s a “go” day, or Nelson’s Boy defying his track preference, there’s every chance one of Mitchell’s trio could give him something to smile about by the end of the afternoon.
