John Parsons has bad news for the bookies heading into the Kaikoura Cup.
Parsons is the new trainer of Scorching, who has been heavily backed to win today's 2400m final lead-up to next week's New Zealand Trotting Cup, and says the gelding can make a winning stable debut.
Scorching raced
through the grades to open class two years ago but has struggled since reaching the big time, with soreness forcing former trainer Cran Dalgety to transfer him to Parsons for beach training.
It appears the move has worked.
Parsons is thrilled with Scorching's progress and believes he can win today even though he has not been to the workouts or trials.
"The way he is working on the beach he will be very hard to beat," said the normally conservative Parsons. "It is always hard fresh up in this grade but he is good-winded so I think he can pull it off."
Parsons has the advantage of knowing just what Scorching has to do to win, because he is also the trainer of the third favourite and last year's winner, Harnetts Creek.
While he has yet to work Scorching and Harnetts Creek together he prefers the former today.
"I doubt Harnetts Creek can give Scorching 10m and still beat him, especially as Scorching is very good from a stand."
If Parsons is right the TAB bookmakers will take a pounding. Scorching was backed in from $14 to $5 on Thursday, with one punter having $3000 on at $7.
His task will not be easy as he not only meets Harnetts Creek but also the South Island's most in-form, open-class pacer, Bobs Blue Boy.
The outstanding stayer appears to have taken the next step this season, with a fighting win in the Hannon Memorial being followed by an effortless Methven Cup victory.
He has a 10m handicap, which is always difficult on the flat Kaikoura track, but he is tough enough to work in the running and still win.
In the other features, northern mare Wee Annie makes her southern debut in the open class trot while Matter Of Pride does the same against gun southern 4-year-olds Presido and Classic Cullen.
