Racing: Doctor best medicine at park

Sheer class should be a good enough reason to back No Doctor Needed at Alexandra Park tonight but if you need further convincing go back to his last 1700m start.

Because it was six starts ago that No Doctor Needed last attempted tonight's distance and it resulted in an upset win over one of the best mares in the world, The Orange Agent.

That was back on November 27 when No Doctor Needed, having his first start from the Steve Telfer-Chris Garlick stable, downed the Harness Jewels winning trio of The Orange Agent, Lancewood Lizzie and Sky Major.

On that occasion he used his gate speed to get handy and while he has drawn barrier six tonight with his rivals either out of form or assessed well below his grade, No Doctor Needed should again be able to dominate the race.

"I'd like to think he could use that speed to get handy and he is very well so he has to be a big chance," says senior training partner Telfer. After taking on the absolute best through December, including Have Faith In Me in the Auckland Cup, No Doctor Needed was a fast finishing fourth in the Flying Mile at Cambridge.

He then had a freshen up before overcoming a big handicap to beat subsequent Cambridge winner Bettor Be Amazed so only traffic problems early should stop him winning tonight.

The powerful strike rate stable also have three handy fillies in race two tonight, with Telfer torn over the best chance.

"Spirit Of Delight is here getting ready for the Young Guns heat in two weeks because we'd like to think she is up to the better juvenile fillies, so she might be our best hope.

"But Olivia's Secret is a speedster who could charge the gate and be hard to catch, while Rocknroll Princess might improve with the outing but should be a good run."

High class three-year-olds Art Form (race five) and Shandale (race seven) add some depth to tonight's meeting as they prepare for the Northern Derby on March 11 while Scarrymcleary only needs manners to continue on his winning way in the trot.

The trotters take centre stage at Addington tonight.

Conon Bridge's gate speed and respect factor should be enough to see him take out the three-year-old feature.

Meanwhile, unbeaten Kiwi superstars Our Waikiki Beach and Dream About Me are red hot favourites not only for their heats of the NSW Derby and Oaks respectively at Menangle tomorrow night, but to win their A$200,000 finals on Sunday week.

Northern mare Smart Dreaming takes on Willow tomorrow in their prelude of the A$200,000 Ladyship Mile while Smolda dominates betting for the free-for-all.

Friday's three
Best bet: No Doctor Needed (R8, No.6): Has beaten the open class stars and has gate speed to dominate tonight.
Go Again: Scarrymcleary (R6, No.6): Manners seem to have caught up to his ability and has too much stamina for most tonight.
Fresh: Cyclone Chief (R3, No.4): Breeders Crown runner-up with gate speed who bolted in at workouts last Saturday.