Manners the key with Horace Horse

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Clevedon trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan are hoping promising trotter Horace Horse will bring his manners to Cambridge Raceway on Friday.

The son of Quaker Jet broke twice in his last start at the Waikato track and his connections have their fingers-crossed that was an anomaly.

“It was a bit unfortunate last time, he just threw his toys out of the cot. Hopefully it’s just the one start, he is usually pretty good with his manners,” Phelan said.

“We will just forget about last time.”

Horace Horse will return to Cambridge on Friday to contest the Loveridge Enterprise Builders Handicap Trot (2700m).

He has already won two of his eight starts and Phelan said he is starting to realise his potential.

“I think he is a reasonable chance on Friday,” Phelan said.

“He has taken a while to come to this time, but he has got at least two or three more wins in him.

“He is going to end up in the grades a little bit but just how far we don’t know.”

Junior driver Nathan Delany will take the reins behind stablemate Jemma in the Agrowquip I John Deere Cambridge Mobile Pace (2200m).

The four-year-old mare has placed in her last two starts and Phelan is hoping she can add another win to her tally from barrier five.

“It will be a tricky little race for Jemma but it will be up to Nathan how he drives her. Her work has been good, so I can’t complain there,” Phelan said.

Last start winner Little Miss Perfect has drawn three in the Fuji Xerox Mobile Pace (2700m) and Phelan will be looking to adopt similar tactics when he hops in the cart on Friday.

“Little Miss Perfect seemed a lot happier in front,” Phelan said.

“She has got a good draw and has got good gate speed which she showed last time. I expect her to run a really good race.”