Racing: Five chances in Dickie's return

I Can Doosit (13). Photo / Natalie Slade

Josh Dickie could play the role of a rather skinny and young Santa for punters at Cambridge today.

The annual Christmas Eve meeting at the Waikato track is a homecoming for Dickie, who grew up there learning to drive from his father, trainer John.

But Dickie has spent most of hiscareer working for Tony Herlihy in Papakura and he has obviously paid attention, developing into one of our best young reinsmen in the past 18 months.

And today he has the horsepower to potentially win a treble and probably has five realistic winning chances, making him a good bet in the TAB's drivers challenge.

"It is a good book of drives, one of the best I have had," said Dickie.

He rates Lively Nights (R4, No2) as his best chance, with her gate speed giving her the chance to try for an all-the-way win.

"She has to be hard because she beat what I think was a better field last start," said the 20-year-old."I'd be keen to stay in front on her and I am confident she can win again."

Lively Nights is trained by John Dickie, as is Josh's drive in the later maiden race Mont Ventoux (R10, No10).

He did plenty wrong last start but made good ground late in a better field and will be suited by the 2700m today.

"He still has plenty to learn but is good enough to win and Dad sounded pretty happy with him this week."

Dickie's boss Tony Herlihy provides him with a push-button drive in race six with Peace Corp (No2), who has looked nippy in his three starts so far and should again lead or trail.

"He isn't very big but he tries really hard and can get off the gate," says Dickie.

"He has worked well this week so he will be another good chance."

And Service With A Smile (R3, No1) is yet another with the draw and the last-start performance to rate a winning hope earlier in the day.

Amboseli (R9, No6), Alta Mario (R8, No14) and even Steffi Glass (R2, No3) all have at least a place chance as well for Dickie.

But he knows he is simply working for the driving fee in today's feature, where he partners $100 no-hoper Katelin Brooke in the $40,000 Flying Mile for the trotters.

That race brings together many of the best trotters in the country as they get to a crucial stage of the season.

I Can Doosit (R7, No4) is clearly the best of them and the early favourite for next month's Interdominion in Victoria. From barrier four he is a $1.40 fixed odds favourite to win today and probably should if he produces his best form.

At times this season he has not trotted perfectly smoothly but the small field with plenty of early speed should give him the chance to surge into the race over the last 800m.

The chances of local star Sovereignty (8) were boosted yesterday with the scratching of Meyer Lansky, meaning he is at least one spot closer to the markers if his driver Maurice McKendry decides to charge forward early.

If he can get handy quickly his $6.50 fixed odds quote is tempting.

The main handicap pace sees a talented mare in Claudia Cardinal (R5, No3) on her home track and she will be fitter after two recent outings.

Being off the front line suits her perfectly and her greatest danger could be Dead Calm, who picked a tough comeback race on a deep track at Wanganui last Sunday but should be improved by that.

And those looking for a last winning bet before tomorrow's racing-less day should look no further than Rosemaryz Luck (R11, No7).

She has plenty of speed and very few brains but it wasn't her fault she galloped early at Wanganui last Sunday when she was upset by, of all things, the bouncy castle next to the dispatch point. Back to a mobile on her home track she has only to trot all the way to be the one to beat.