Cambridge pacer Waingaro Lassie will need luck in running if she is to extend her winning sequence to three at New Plymouth today.
Trainer Nicki Chilcott said the mare will need luck in the Smooth Gretna Breeders Stakes at Pukekura Raceway.
The Soky's Atom four-year-old will line up in the Taranaki Trotting Club's feature for fillies and mares having scored impressive victories at Tauranga, in January, and a class two-four race on her home track on February 8.
Chilcott said Waingaro Lassie had thrived since last racing, but conceded the mare would face a difficult task to win today in the one mile(1609m) race.
"The draw is the big concern," she said yesterday.
"Drawing eight [outside of the front row from behind the mobile] is not going to make it easy.
"A mile can be a great leveller. If they run a quick time off the front it's hard to get into the race."
Since joining Chilcott's stable a few months ago, Waingaro Lassie's form has been hard to fault.
"When I got her she hadn't paid a dividend in five starts and she's had five wins, a third and one miss from seven starts for me."
Chilcott put the form turnaround down to a change of environment and training methods.
"We train her differently to the other horses.
"She hardly has a cart on except on race days.
"I just put a saddle on her and ride her round the roads and now and again take her to the swimming pool and dunk her in and give her a swim."
The hardest for Waingaro Lassie to beat could be the Steven Reid-trained Ellmer Rae.
Ellmer Rae has won her last two races, but has not raced since winning a class two race at Alexandra Park on November 17.
She has, however, been trialling well and from barrier six driver Brent Mangos should be able to give the six-year-old mare a good run.
- NZPA
Racing: Luck needed for three in a row
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