Racing: Odds against boom trotter, warns trainer

Leighton Hest is racing the ghost of Harness Jewels past on Saturday.

The inexperienced 4-year-old trotter is rated a $2.20 chance to win his $100,000 division of the Jewels at Ashburton after winning six of his last seven starts.

But trainer Phil Williamson is concerned punters may be expecting too much of Leighton Hest and Williamson himself.

Williamson emerged from virtual obscurity five years ago to be one of our great trainers of trotters and one of his stars has been Springback Richard, who won the Jewels at both 3 and 4 years of age.

"I think some people are thinking just because Richard could do it this horse will too," said Williamson yesterday.

"But they are very different horses and this horse isn't as good as Richard was at this stage last season.

"Richard had already raced at 3, both here and in Australia, and was experienced by the time he won this race last year.

"And he was also a very good miler, who could come off the gate hard."

Williamson says while Leighton Hest will end up in open class he is a more of a stayer, not ideally suited by Saturday's conditions.

"He is a good horse but doesn't have the absolute class to be a top horse yet. But he will get there."

Leighton Hest has looked very good coming through the grades but has yet to start from behind the mobile on raceday.

"He has had two mobile trials and handled it well but I wouldn't say he is a fast beginner," said Williamson.

That could be a crucial factor in determining whether Leighton Hest is too short to back on Saturday against a field containing several likely leaders.

If he can cross Kasyanov, who has drawn barrier one, then he will be very hard to catch, maybe impossible.

"But if we can't lead then horses like Real Deal Yankee and Sno's Big Boy suddenly come right into the race."

Real Deal Yankee has emerged as one of the better each-way bets of Jewels day, with trainer John Dickie thrilled with how he has settled in on his South Island sojourn.

He needed the run when a fighting third in an open class race at Alexandra Park last start and could settle handy on the markers on Saturday.

"I think his second-line draw could suit and I couldn't be happier with him," said Dickie.

At $8 and with big-race reinsman Todd Mitchell in the sulky, Real Deal Yankee looks a good bet, especially in light of Williamson's comments.

The race has emerged as one of the most even and interesting of the day, opened up by the withdrawals of Sovereignty, Red and Ray.