Racing: Stalled sale should provide bonus

Percy The Punter will be warm favourite at Alexandra Park tonight. Photo / Greg Bowker

A stalled sale has kept Percy The Punter in New Zealand long enough for the perfect race at Alexandra Park tonight.

The 4-year-old was under offer after winning against similar opposition two weeks ago and could well have been in the United States by now.

With that sale in limbo, Percy The Punter looks set to claim a bonus win in the $20,000 Thames Cup tonight.

Victory in the 2700m standing start would provide connections with the winning stake plus 50 per cent under the Alexandra Park bonus scheme, in which every third win is worth 1.5 times the winning stake.

"This is an ideal race for him anyway but being on a bonus makes it very worthwhile," said trainer-driver Maurice McKendry.

He was philosophical about losing his stable star if he had been sold, knowing Percy The Punter faces a big step up to open class next season but he is also adamant he can make the grade.

"I know he will make an open-class horse because he follows the speed so well but the question is how much money you win in open class compared with how much you get for selling him.

"But I am thrilled to have him still here because this race looks ideal for him and he is thriving at the moment.

"I'd say he will be at least as good heading into this week as when he won two weeks ago."

Percy The Punter outclassed similar opposition under the same circumstances two weeks ago and has the manners and fitness to repeat.

The small field means he shouldn't be too far off the leaders with a lap to go and from there is the horse to beat.

Swift Therapy has been a huge improver in the past two months and handled his recent standing start well enough to suggest he can test the favourite, while Onedin Crusader was a good second last week and Dash is consistent in this grade.

The interesting runner is All Tiger, who has an interrupted season in open class but falls a long way back in grade here and comes in well under these conditions.

While winning fresh-up off a back mark in a listed pace at Alexandra Park is rare, he does have the x-factor to win without surprising.

All Tiger's stablemate De Lovely will be the class act on show tonight, having her first start since winning the Harness Jewels as she prepares for her Australian campaign.

Even slightly below her peak she is a Pick6 anchor against moderate opposition from a good draw in race nine.

McKendry, who trains a small team, could provide another near Pick6 anchor with Saccha Maguire in the first leg.

The 2-year-old filly has only had two starts for two placings against male juveniles but meets weak maiden opposition in race five.

And McKendry says her second line draw could be an advantage.

"It means she won't have to do any work early and that could be a good thing against the older horses.

"She is still learning but I like her long-term and already she has gears. I think she will be hard to beat."

PICTURE PERFECT FOR PUNTERS
* Percy The Punter looks ideally placed in the $20,000 Thames Cup tonight.

* He was under offer to the United States but with that sale stalled he is chasing a bonus winning stake.

* Trainer Maurice McKendry says the 4-year-old is even better than when he won last start.

* Champion filly De Lovely is tonight's Pick6 anchor.