Racing: Real Torque to power home

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Canterbury horseman Mark Jones didn't rate Real Torque when he first began training the filly.

However, he is quickly adjusting his opinion of the 2-year-old after her exploits over the past few weeks.

The daughter of Real Desire was a stand-out winner on debut at Alexandra Park two weeks ago, and will have her first crack at the C1 grade back at the Park in the fourth race tonight.

"I'm really happy with her," Jones said on Wednesday. "We didn't think much of her, but she's kept improving. She stood up in her first race and was pretty impressive.

"With the step up in grade, I'd say she'll compete pretty well in the C1 grade - she's quite a nice filly."

Jones is likely to send her to Cambridge for a Breeders Crown heat on July 9, although her trip is far from guaranteed.

"She's only 50:50 to go to the Breeders Crown, but if she can probably win two or three up there over the winter then go back there at Christmastime as a maiden, it's good business.

"She's going to be better at three, but she should do a good job in the next month to six weeks."

Jones does not plan to give any driving instructions to junior reinswoman Kimberly Butt, particularly after the filly's tough debut win.

"I'm surprised she sat parked and won last start so she showed toughness," he said.

"But she is pretty quick, too, so Kim can do what she wants with her really.

"She's just got a good attitude, so we'll leave that up to Kim."

Rocker Band (R5) is another Jones-trained filly chasing the cash at Alexandra Park during winter.

She drops back from finishing eighth in the 3-year-old diamond division of the Harness Jewels at Ashburton on May 30, when she paced the mile in 1:52.6.

"I thought she probably could have finished off a touch better," Jonessaid.

"But I've freshened her up, and her work this morning was good up there. With a drop back [in class], I would like to think she would be pretty hard to beat.

"She probably is looking for a break but she hasn't won any penalty-free races as a 3-year-old so she will just race up there until the end of the season, then have a good break and come back for Christmas."

Jones suggested punters stick with Landora's Girl (R3), despite bad mistakes over the past two weeks.

"She should win a maiden straight away the day she trots," he said.

"As a rule, she's normally been pretty good, but she's just been pacing away.

"We've changed her shoeing, so if she did trot all the way, she'd be very hard to beat."

Oasis Dream (R8) needs plenty of luck to feature from barrier eight, and Jones said his future racing would be in Australia.