LITTLE RASCAL, arguably the best performed of Panspacificflight’s first New Zealand crop, resumes in a $20,000 race on premier night at Addington on 09 October.
The Robert Dunn-trained four-year-old gelding has drawn No 1 on the front line in his first standing start. That mightn’t be ideal but he has been beginning well at the trials. He zipped over his last 400 metres in 26.2 when he won at the Ashburton trials on 29 September.
Little Rascal has done most of his racing from Dunn’s northern base, winning all four of his races at Alexandra Park, where has recorded impressive winning mile rates of 1:56.9 over 2200 metres and 1:59.6 over 2700 metres. But he stayed in the South Island after running in the Jewels at Ashburton. He’s owned by Ian Dobson of Christian Cullen fame. .
Another talented Panspacificflight pacer down to race this weekend, Arden’s Concord, has been scratched from his Gore engagement. Trainer Matt Saunders says he’s not 100 per cent and doesn’t want to risk him.
FOOTNOTE: Little Rascal lived up to his name in contributing to the shambles at the start of this race. He finished up being put to the unruly position but blew the long-delayed start anyway. Back to a mobile the following week, Little Rascal rattled home for fourth from a bad draw over 1950 metres and will be worth following during Cup week.