Don't be put off by Walkinshaw's terrible standing start record in the $25,000 Country Cups Final at Cambridge today. Because if the best version of the smart four-year-old turns up he can overcome his 20m handicap, even on a track where chasing can be hard work.
The field brings together mainly the journeymen of the country pacing circuit, whereas Walkinshaw and Bettor Spirits are genuine Alexandra Park horses who have raced in the big time.
Walkinshaw finished third to Lazarus and Chase The Dream in last season's Northern Derby but has failed to reach those heights this campaign. "He has had some up and down runs but the grade he is racing in can be very, very tough especially at the carnivals,"says trainer-driver Tony Herlihy.
Which is one reason Walkinshaw has had five standing start races without a placing.
Two of his most recent stands have been behind superstars in Vincent and Heaven Rocks at Alexandra Park, while another of his standing start failures was in the Sales Series Pace at Kaikoura.