Racing: Keep an eye out for Hughie

A simple gear change should turn Hughie Green from money muncher into a good thing at Alexandra Park tonight.

The exciting 3-year-old burnt punters severely when he galloped early against top-class older opponents last Friday night, staging a huge recovery for third before being disqualified.

Trainer Brian Hughes says the expensive mistake came when Hughie Green spotted tyre marks on the track left by him and his rivals parading before the score up for the race.

"You could see them quite clearly on the video and, obviously, so did he," says Hughes.

"It was unfortunate for punters but for us the most important thing is he took no harm from the gallop and I thought he went very well afterwards."

Hughie Green's performances to lose 30m at full speed and be beaten by less than that behind Lets Elope and Norvic Nightowl suggests he is the best 3-year-old pacer in the North Island. Hughie Green's unfortunately good eyesight has seen Hughes add a shadow roll for tonight and he says the gelding worked comfortably in the new gear this week.

So, barring another bizarre trip up tonight, he should win before heading to Addington for the Sires' Stakes.

Hughes has a great quinella chance, too, in My Kiwi Mate, who ran on well in a fast last 400m in the Sires' Stakes heat last Friday and has an air of Derby potential.

Hughie Green isn't the only favourite tonight seeking to regain winning form before chasing an Addington group one, with Boizel and Cool Cobber doing the same from the back mark in the main trot.

Cool Cobber was clearly the better of the pair when they last clashed, making good ground in a fast time in a race, where Miss Pegasus ran the backmarkers off their hooves.

She was impressive enough winning her northern debut to suggest a repeat is not out of the question but she goes back 10m in the handicaps and loses potentially valuable field position over Cool Cobber.

So with any sort of cart into the race, Cool Cobber should get closer if not beat Miss Pegasus, while Boizel was a victim of circumstances chasing the runaway leader last start and looks better placed tonight.

Meanwhile, Alta Orlando should confirm himself as the best of the Purdon-Rasmussen 3-year-old pacers by winning his Sires' Stakes heat at Addington tonight.

The talented goof was run down late by stablemate Hug The Wind when fresh-up last start but is suited by the small field tonight.

"I am pretty sure he is the most talented of our 3-year-olds at the moment and probably our best chance in the Sires' Stakes in a few weeks," said Purdon.

Three for Friday
Best bet: Hughie Green (Alex Park, R8): Forget last Friday if you can, this guy is the goods.
Quinella: Downtown Stride and Bandana (Alex Park, R6): One comes out of a Sires' Stakes heat last Friday, the other won a workout by 10 lengths on Saturday.
Each-way: Saffron Castelton (Alex Park, R9): Drawn to get ideal trip and will love the rare mobile sprint for trotters of this grade.