Racing: Spring brings fresh offerings

The late-winter pacing scene we've seen lately assumes a different look this evening at Addington, with the usual suspects of recent weeks facing fresh opposition from comeback horse Clifford Jasper.

In last week's corresponding race, Keeprightondreaming and Jackson Browne fought out a close finish and are likely to be prominent again, despite tonight's improved opposition.

Both 6-year-olds have had relatively few starts for their age, with Jackson Browne missing 18 months of racing due to leg trouble and Keeprightondreaming's late start resulting from a combination of mental and physical difficulties.

"He was quite a handful early on," recalled his trainer, Andrew Garters. "At his first workout he put the boot in at the start and lost 100 metres but still won. At that point we thought we had a really smart horse but after that he got worse and worse and wasn't eating.

"It was suggested to us that it might be ulcers and since we treated him for that he's been a different horse. Another five or six wins shouldn't be beyond him."

In winning seven days ago, Keeprightondreaming skipped for the first few strides before working to the lead. A last half-mile in 57.2s ensured the resurgent son of Fake Left wouldn't be beaten, though Jackson Browne did get close after challenging at the top of the straight.

Jackson Browne's trainer, David Butt, reports that his charge has progressed well since last week's run.

"It's a strong field this week but he seems good," said Butt. "Two starts ago at Rangiora he got too keen and choked down, but he bounced back well from that."

Jackson Browne meets Keeprightondreaming 10m better off in the handicaps tonight and Butt is hopeful that he can continue to improve and measure up to the stronger company of early spring.

An interesting addition to tonight's contest is the tough and classy Clifford Jasper, who will be having his first start since fracturing a kneebone late last year.

However, trainer Trevor Craddock says punters should not assume Clifford Jasper will be too far short of peak fitness.

"I'm confident he's 100 per cent sound again," said Craddock, "and he's always gone well fresh. That's the beauty of beach work. You can get them pretty forward and he won't be lacking in work."