Racing: Trainer confident trotter ready for success

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Trainer Nigel Chalmers is confident Watch Rose Trot can reproduce her best form when starting afresh at Forbury Park today.

Watch Rose, winner of five races, is the best-performed trotter in a 1700m (mobile) race for mares and fillies.

She won at Invercargill and Oamaru early this year. Chalmers put her aside in April to recover from foot problems.

"She has had a lot of foot problems and won those last two races on sheer ability," Chalmers said. "She was out for about six weeks and I think I have got on top of her problems with the help of the farrier. Being back at the beach is also a big help."

Lindt, a rival for Watch Rose Trot, won a workout at Forbury Park on Saturday.

The Craig Buchan-trained trio of El Nino, Dying For A Chance and Cup Day Spur also won workouts in preparation for the meeting today. El Nino won by a length from race rival Easton All Action, who has won her past two races.

El Nino was runner-up to No Courage Russell at Forbury Park two starts back. Dying For A Chance has not raced since January.

Carter's Rocket, the 2-year-old who won a workout by six lengths at Rangiora on Saturday, has been entered for Addington on Friday night. The Elsu-Pocket Rose gelding, trained by Cran Dalgety, also won a trial at Rangiora last Wednesday.

Cowgirls N Indians, last-start winner of the 2-year-old filly section of the Harness Jewels, has been entered for a heat of the Australasian Breeders Crown at Cambridge on Thursday.

Her trainer Ian Small has Bagger Vance in the heat for 2-year-old colts and geldings. The son of Falcon Seelster-Corbie, thus a brother to Agios Nikolaos, was a winner at Alexandra Park in May.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES