Racing: Dixon worth following tonight

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Trainer Gareth Dixon is hoping some new blood will kick start his season at Alexandra Park tonight.

Sales, retirements and injuries curtailed the Clevedon horseman's training efforts last season when he was left with a lot of horses who had reached their marks.

He takes his first wave of newcomers to tonight's Kumeu meeting and is expecting good things.

"The maidens have looked sharp at the workouts and I think they will be hard to beat," said Dixon.

He lines up Shards Of Ice and Beau Starlight in the first race, which continues the run of strong recent Alexandra Park maiden races, boosted by 3-year-olds returning.

Dixon's pair meet Charge Forward, who showed enormous promise winning as a juvenile last season and he admits that worries him.

"Charge Forward could be hard to beat but I've got a bit of time for both of mine, with Shards Of Ice the more forward," said Dixon.

Later on the night, he has another maiden stable clash when Jessies Cullen and Perfect Sensation meet in race eight, a leg of the $40,000 Pick6.

"Jessies Cullen is a nice filly who has trialled well and I think she will be hard to beat, whereas Perfect Sensation might take a run or two because she is not as forward."

Dixon rates Unleash The Fury, who could provide Pick6 punters with a good opportunity to build up their banks, in race four as his best chance.

"She has been racing well and drops a long way in class and the small field could help her overcome the draw."

Stable representative Roving President gets the draw to use his gate speed in race five, which kicks off the Pick6, and Dixon hopes the gelding can stay in front in a field that looks devoid of mid-race pressure.

But a lack of pressure is what Dixon's fears could cost Spy a winning chance in race six.

The seven-race winner is edging his way back to peak fitness after two runs this campaign but has drawn wide over 2200m and faces going back at the start.

"That could make it hard to win because I thought Red Zone might lead with Dead Calm trailing, and I don't see a lot of attackers," said Dixon.

"If they go hard he [Spy] can win because he is going well but he needs that bit of speed in the race.

"But he definitely has a couple more wins in him."

Being a Kumeu meeting with lower stakes than the recent ATC meetings, tonight has drawn smaller fields, meaning punters won't need to spend a lot to have a good shot at the $40,000 Pick6 and quaddie.