Racing: Pacer can rekindle youthful fire

By MICHAEL GUERIN

The long road back to winning may be getting shorter for Light And Sound.

Two seasons ago the Canterbury pacer was harness racing's next big thing, a champion juvenile who regularly slayed the likes of Elsu and Bella's Boy.

He was knocking on the door of greatness but, unfortunately, greatness didn't answer.

After missing half of his three-year-old season because of an operation, Light And Sound returned a shadow of his former self.

As others like Elsu improved, Light And Sound may have actually got worse.

The times he recorded as a three-year-old were slower than those he could pace as a juvenile.

His season ended with a disappointing Breeders Crown campaign in Victoria.

This season has hardly begun much better, because four starts have brought four battling placings.

But through all those troubles his trainer-driver Mark Purdon has never given up hope he would see the best of Light And Sound again.

And last Wednesday morning he did.

Purdon gave the four-year-old his final fast workout before sending him north for tonight's $27,500 Cambridge Classic and was stunned by his performance.

"It was a sensational workout," said Purdon.

"The way he trained was right up there with how the good horses like Jack Cade and Young Rufus train.

"I don't really know what to put it down to but since his last-start third at Addington he has started to come back to it.

"He has put on weight, started to look brighter and is working more like his old self."

With that in mind Light And Sound deserves to start favourite even against some hot opposition in tonight's 2200m mobile which brings together some of the best four-year-olds in the country.

After last week's workout Purdon has declared he will use the stallion's blazing gate speed to try to cross Miracle Man and Coburg at the start.

If he can achieve that, only Maheer Lord looks a likely mid-race challenger.

"He is very good in front and I will be heading there."

Leading is always a huge advantage in a feature race at Cambridge where it is so hard to make ground from the back but the pacemaking role alone would not be enough to guarantee Light And Sound victory.

If he had to work too hard early, and Coburg has the gate speed to make him do just that, then stayers like Miracle Man and Maheer Lord may be perfectly placed to take advantage. Miracle Man was an unlucky third against the big boys of harness racing in last Saturday's A$400,000 Hunter Cup and would only need to stay handy to take an enormous amount of beating, although his ace draw could be a hinderance unless he shows the sharpest gate speed of his career.

Maheer Lord has had little luck lately and may be going through a flat patch of form.

But he is arguably at his best when saved for one run off a hot pace, which may happen tonight.

Outstanding mares Coburg and Pullover Brown would both be winning chances with the right run, which Coburg is the more likely to get.

If Light And Sound does return to the winner's circle it should be the first half of a feature-race double for Purdon as he dominates the other leg, the $50,000 PGG Graduette, with Advance Attack.

The juvenile is unbeaten in three starts and has the draw and the manners to easily lead, from where he would be nearly unbeatable over 1700m.

The race does, however, contain five debutantes from the Geoff Small stable, many of whom have good form. Their performances will be just as interesting as that of the favourite.

Small also has a strong hand in the third feature of the night, with Copper Beach, Count Me In and Zenterfold in the $10,000 Nevele R Fillies heat, where they clash with exciting fillies Elle Mary Rose, That's Life Lavra and Tania Bromac.

* Tonight's meeting will host four guest commentators.

Alby Gain, Tony Lee, George Simon and Darren Tyquin will join regular caller Aaron White.

Classic night

* The $27,500 Cambridge Classic headlines a huge harness programme at Cambridge tonight.

* The race gives former juvenile star Light And Sound a chance to bounce back to winning form against hot opposition.

* His stablemate Advance Attack dominates the $50,000 juvenile event.

* The three-year-old fillies clash in a heat of the Nevele R series.