Racing: Tough task but trotter should do it

I Can Doosit could be chasing more than just the winning stake of the $25,000 Greenlane Cup at Alexandra Park tonight.

Victory in the listed event could secure him the New Zealand Trotter of the Year title.

The 4-year-old comes into tonight's feature a last-start winner of his division of the Harness Jewels, the highlight of a season in which he has gone from one-win trotter to open class.

With the New Zealand open-class feature trots shared around among an average local crop the trotter-of-the-year title could well go to an age group horse, in what would be a complete rarity.

The other favourite for that title would be filly Kahdon but her chances took a dip this week when HRNZ decided voting for the awards closes a week before the Victoria Trotting Derby on July 18, victory in which could have secured Kahdon the trotter-of-the-year honours.

Regardless of whether he wins the title, I Can Doosit deserves favouritism tonight, even though he faces a 30m handicap.

He has developed into a powerful stayer and looks a potential Rowe Cup winner of the future.

He has a class edge over his rivals tonight and with only a few horses off the front two marks, he should be able to overcome his handicap.

The key factor in the race will be the manners of Meander With Earl. The greatly-improved mare cost punters by galloping as favourite last week but is a powerful front runner. If she steps safely tonight she should set a hot tempo, which would make her hard to catch and also force the hand of some of the favoured runners off the 30m mark.

If she trots 3:28 for the 2700m, those back in the field are going to need to be very good to win.

If the race does develop into one where the swoopers get over the top late, then I Can Doosit could find his own brother is his biggest danger.

Sno's Big Boy is a year older than I Can Doosit but looks younger.

What he lacks in size and maybe stamina he makes up for with speed and with Tony Herlihy driving he could get the right cart into the race.

Earlier on the night, I Can Doosit's trainer-driver Mark Purdon should start the evening with a win behind Harrison Maguire in race one.

The 3-year-old has produced two huge runs for second in his past two starts and has drawn better at barrier two tonight. He showed great gate speed last week and should be too classy tonight. The Canterbury horseman could finish the night on a winning note with Goodlookinggirl in the Alabar Mobile Pace.