Racing: McKendry should reign

A big dummy and an idiot are set to give driving legend Maurice McKendry the feature race double at Alexandra Park tonight.

McKendry will partner hot favourites Sir Lincoln (race five) and Sovereignty (race seven) at the Thames HRC meeting and after their last-start performances it is hard to see either beaten.

Sir Lincoln stamped himself a 3-year-old of Derby class with a crushing win over older opponents last Friday, while Sovereignty has developed into an even better trotter than last term judging by his unbeaten start to the season.

But neither horse is perfect just yet.

"Sir Lincoln is a really good horse because he has genuine speed," said McKendry.

"But he is a big dummy. He doesn't know much and that is what makes him a little bit exciting, because he should keep getting better."

Sir Lincoln showed gate speed for the first time in his short career last Friday and a repeat of that could be the key to winning tonight's Sires' Stakes heat.

He has drawn the ace and if he can hold Courage To Rule at the start it is hard to see him beaten, especially as Sires' Stakes heats are often uncompetitive affairs as rival drivers simply try to qualify for the final.

"I think from the inside he should hold them at the start and then he will be very hard to beat," said McKendry.

Courage To Rule looked back to his best with a convincing maiden win last Friday and is an obvious danger, while Five Star Anvil is class and would be a lot warmer on the tote from a better barrier.

Swift Therapy looks the other upset hope as he was solid winning at Cambridge last Thursday when racing in the worst part of the track.

McKendry will have no such lead-all-the-way luxuries with Sovereignty but the wonderful trotter still looks set for his third win on end in the main trot.

While he goes back to a 30m handicap there are only four horses in front of him and the small field is a huge help.

So, too, could be the respect he has gained with his two crushing wins this campaign, even though he did show some mental fragility in his first, galloping at the 300m mark before staging a huge recovery.

"I am not worried about that, he was just being an idiot, which he can do some times," said trainer Sean McCaffrey at the time.

He was proved right when Sovereignty sat parked to beat most of tonight's rivals last time out.

"I know he goes back in the handicaps but he still isn't too badly off and he will be hard to beat because he is trotting well," says McKendry.

New Zealand's second-most successful horseman ever, with more than 2700 career wins, McKendry also warns punters to look out for Maheer Major in the first race tonight.

He ran on well from last in a sizzling last 800m last Friday and has drawn better tonight, giving him plenty of options.

"He is racing really well, as are all of Ray Green's team, and he will be hard to hold out."

There will also be much interest tonight in the return of former boom juvenile Antares in race four. A potential topliner, he has trialled well and from a good draw should be take beating in the junior drivers' event.

Meanwhile, the other heat of the Sires' Stakes heat will be held at Addington tonight, where Anvil's Best Ever gets the perfect chance to qualify for the November 10 final.

The Young Guns winner of last season has a better draw than key rivals Arnoux and Franco Hendrix and that should be enough for him to win after an electrifying workout success last Saturday.