Racing: Punters should turn to Freespin

The good news for punters taking the short odds about Freespin at Alexandra Park tonight is that Scott Phelan is better at driving than he is making predictions.

While Phelan is aggressive on the track, he now has to admit he sold himself short off it.

The talented reinsman was lured back to Auckland from Victoria last September to work for Steve Telfer and Chris Garlick but, their backing aside, thought he faced a difficult task getting outside drives.

So he set himself a goal of driving 20 winners in his truncated season.

To his surprise, outside stables have been keen to use his services and he heads into tonight's meeting having partnered 34 winners since his return, with the new goal for his comeback season now 40.

"I thought 20 would be a great start but it has gone way better than that," said Phelan.

"So to get to 40 would be enormous and the way things are going that looks possible."

Freespin should account for one of those tonight after two luckless runs so far this campaign.

As a four-win horse he comes into race three tonight with an assessment advantage and Phelan says the lanky pacer has the ability to dominate the race.

"It is a race he should really win," he said.

"He has good enough gate speed to hold them early and I think he can lead all the way."

Phelan's next winner could come even earlier, with Kawarau Spur in the second event. He's no star but is in the perfect race to use his manners.

"And In The Living Years [R4] is a good mare who likes to roll along so she could pick up another win before long."

On a night of small fields, the terminating Pick6 will be tempting for punters but it should be a case of taking a few in each leg, rather than searching for anchors.

The night's feature trot, the second-last leg, looks ideal for Sno's Big Boy as he was brave after sitting parked in a similar field last week, but Manchester Lass and southerner Blackjacky could upset so are needed as at least Pick6 savers.

The juvenile fillies October Brown and Saharazona should dominate race six and Jasinsky looks one of the night's better each-way bets in race seven.

Meanwhile, outstanding trotting filly Habibti will look to cap her amazing season in the A$60,000 Victoria Trotting Oaks at Melton tonight.

She has, remarkably, won the Oaks-Derby double in New Zealand and New South Wales and back against her own sex tonight only has to beat Spidergirl to add a third Oaks to her imposing record.

Friday night bets
Best bet: Freespin (Alex Park, R3): Has been unlucky but should be no excuses tonight.
Each-way: Jasinsky (Alex Park, R7): If he negotiates the first 400m safely will take a heap of catching.
Oaks treble? Kiwi star Habibti is looking to become a unique three-time Oaks winning trotter at Melton tonight.