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Talented stablemates Sir Albert and Dazzling Miss will head down to Ashburton on Wednesday to launch their summer campaigns.
The highly-rated pair have lined up against each other on a number of occasions, most recently in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) during New Zealand Cup Week where they finished seventh and eighth-equal respectively. Their trainer, Terri Rae, was pleased with each of their efforts in the feature, with less than three lengths separating each horse from the winner, Kopua.
"Albert was a bit crowded down the straight and he really suits sitting back and running home," she said.
"Dazzling Miss was parked out three-wide the whole way, she wasn't far off the winner either for the amount of work she had done."
Following Wednesday's McCrea Painters and Decorators Trainers Challenge (1300m), Sir Albert and Dazzling Miss will head to the Timaru Cup (1600m) on December 28, a race won by the latter in a dead-heat 12 months ago.
"This is a bit of a kick-off again for Albert going into the Timaru Cup, and then he'll be looking to get over a bit more ground," Rae said.
"She (Dazzling Miss) is pretty genuine, at this stage she'll head to the Timaru Cup as well and will look ahead to races like the White Robe (Gr.3, 1600m), those nice black-type races.
"This is a bit short for both of them tomorrow, but it's a good starting point."
Rae will have a trio of other representatives at the meeting, with Lillian running on debut in the EGL Pastoral/Winslows Farm/Mid Canterbury Transport (1200m).
"It's her first start so it's always hard, but she has got a good draw (5) which will help," Rae said.
"It's certainly a lot easier once they have a couple of starts and get a bit of ringcraft, but she's a nice little filly and goes quite nicely."
Leah Hemi will guide the War Decree filly in her first appearance on race-day, while stable apprentice Denby-Rose Tait takes the reins aboard War And Peace , a newer member to Rae's stable. Formerly trained by part-owner Paul Gray, the four-year-old won a trial comfortably at the venue last month and takes his place in the NZB Mega Maiden Series (1200m).
"Paul Gray is still in the ownership and continued to do some work with him in the early part, he's trialled up nicely and we've put the blinkers on and a change of bit," Rae said.
"He will come in a couple from a bad draw (11), but he's pretty straight forward, he jumps and settles handy. Hopefully he's in the finishing end somewhere."
In the last race on the Ashburton card, Kindling Spark will carry the minimum under Hemi, dropping back from open company at her last start.
"She's working well, she's pretty honest and straightforward, but she doesn't always jump the best," Rae said.
"She is better once she gets over a bit more ground, where it doesn't matter quite so much."