The North Eastern Pacing Club will stage Scottsdale’s premier event on Friday in the twilight zone, with the running of the $20,000 Good Sports North Eastern Pacing Cup (2692m).
Club president and local trainer Kent Rattray will be represented in the Cup by Rockandahardplace. He will start from a 20m handicap.
The North Eastern Pacing Cup is a conditioned handicap on the number of wins, opposed to the usual National Rating Handicapping system.
Rockandahardplace last raced in the St Mary’s Cup on New Year’s Day.
“He was probably a little bit flat in the St Mary’s Cup on his run at Carrick the Sunday prior.
“I did give him a big show at St Mary’s, but John (Walters, driver) said when they zipped down the back he was flat, and even then he kept plodding along and was on their back sides at the finish,” said Kent about the fifth placing when defeated by five metres.
“And his run on Sunday before, when third, they broke the track record.”
Rockandahardplace is a past winner of the Cup, taking out the 2022 race, which was held in Launceston after the annual Scottsdale meeting was called off due to COVID-19 health concerns.
Early markets had the Gareth Rattray-driven Maebee, an up-and-coming pacer into the open class ranks, Horatius Speculo, as the equal favourites for Friday’s race.
The Rattray stable is also represented by Colby Sanz in race two and by Miki Sanz in race seven.
“The three of them are honest horses, but they probably need a front-row draw to be where I want them to be.”
Overall, the Club president is delighted with the fields across the card.
“It looks like pretty good fields, there are plenty of trainers chasing runs at the moment.
It is free entry to the course, with face painting, a lucky program draw, the annual spud-throwing competition, a veteran card display, and fashions on the field.
“We will also have a singer performing after the last, we generally kick on with the bar until 22:00.”
Gates open at 15:00, with the first race set down for 16:40.
