Racing: Doody reaches for stars

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A seventh placing two starts ago has convinced Stephen Doody the Central Districts can record its first Harness Jewels win with Te Kawau on Saturday.

While that may sound like it is stretching optimism a tad too far, Doody has evidence to back up his confidence as his 4-year-old prepares to take on the likes of Sky Major and Tiger Tara.

No Central Districts-trained horse has ever won a Jewels, with the region's leading trainer Doody having come closest with a couple of fifths in the eight-year history of the day.

However, he heads to Ashburton believing he can break that duck with Te Kawau, and not because of his brave Winter Cup win in the slush at Addington last start.

"The Addington win was good but his run for seventh in the Messenger two starts [back] was huge," said Doody. "He was unlucky there and had he got a clear run I am sure he could have won and I think he probably would have.

"So that told me he is up to these horses at his best and is one of the reasons I am going into Saturday with some confidence."

Another is Te Kawau's draw of four, which suggests he might be the first of the favoured runners to take the lead. If that eventuates, Doody says his rangy pacer is no certainty to hand up the pacemaking role to Tiger Tara, as many are predicting.

"In the end, that decision is up to Jimmy [Curtin, driver] but this horse is good in front and won at the Cup meeting at Addington leading.

"So, to be honest, I'd be happy to see him stay in front."

Te Kawau has been one of the biggest movers since the draw came out, now into $6 with the TAB after you could have got $18 last week.

While some of his winning form has been on the easier CD circuit, he has also excelled when asked to venture to Addington or Alexandra Park and has always looked the Diet Coke version of another local pacing great in Yulestar, sharing the leggy frame, huge stride and undoubted stamina.

His Winter Cup win suggests he will end up a New Zealand Cup horse and while he has yet to beat the likes of Sky Major, he looks well capable of at least a 1:52 mile if Ashburton produces a warm day and good track on Saturday.

That may not be good enough to win, but it will make any horse who beats him work awfully hard.

The support for Te Kawau and Tiger Tara, who is in to $3, has seen Sky Major drift to $2.20 as he attempts to become the first three-time Jewels winner.

Two expected movers with the TAB yesterday were Speeding Spur and Monbet, whose prices both dropped after the scratching of Habibti Ivy from the 3-year-old Ruby was confirmed.

Trainer Paul Nairn still can't pinpoint what is wrong with his NZ Trotting Oaks winner so was forced to scratch her.

That would seem to aid Speeding Spur, who will have one fewer horse to cross early if he heads for the lead and he is in to $1.80, with Monbet at $2.40 in an unrealistically tight market.

The big bets have already started to come for the favourites who will dominate Saturday's card, with Have Faith In Me attracting a $9000 bet at $1.65 to win the 3-year-old Emerald in what could be a sign of the bookie action to come on Saturday.