Empire Flame could come into his own at Oamaru tomorrow with the scratching of Amakudari.
Empire Flame chased home Amakudari in a gap of four and a-half lengths at Washdyke last Sunday in his first race for six months.
Secret Potion, Samarias Bromac and Anvil On Fire are mares in the field in line to qualify for the Harness Jewels by winning. It is the last opportunity.
Amakudari, winner of her last three starts, has been scratched due to a cold.
"She has a bit of a sniffle and I felt she would need to be at her best to win from 40m," Phil Burrows, her trainer, said.
"I would hope to get her to Hororata Cup next week."
Burrows credits her recent winning form to pull down blinds.
"She has worn pull down blinds for her last three starts and that is all I can put it down to," he said.
The blinds are usually released in the closing stages of a race and aid concentration.
Amakudari was on the verge of being retired when she won at Oamaru in January. She was then well advanced in foal. She was scanned after her next race and found to have lost the fetus.
That was not unexpected as it was a twin. The other twin had been removed earlier.
Dundee Three, a capable pacer in the Burrows stable, missed a race at Addington last night due to a cold.
• Animal Kingdom, upset winner of the Kentucky Derby, has 13 rivals in the Preakness Stakes today, Reuters reports.
Graham Motion, the trainer of Animal Kingdom described the colt's training this week as "super".
Motion said that the Derby win two weeks ago at Churchill Downs was a pleasant surprise.
Animal Kingdom was racing for the first time on dirt in five starts. The son of Leroidesanimaux started at 20-1.
Animal Kingdom has been listed as the 2-1 favourite today, ahead of Dialed ( 9-2), a disappointing eighth in the Derby.
• Additional information for the meetings today:
Waikato RC
Riders
Race 1: Scattercat - V Colgan.
Race 7: Miss Biennale - R Hutchings (4).
Weather, overcast; track, dead(5); rail, out 6m.
Rangitikei RC
Rider
Race 3: Raiseyourglass - S Collett.
Weather, fine; track, heavy(10); rail, out 2m.
Invercargill HRC
Scratchings
Race 1: Motu Just In Time.
Race 3: Family Robinson, Auto Fire, Zealous Lady.
Race 5: Bettor Yarn.
Race 6: Three Sugars.
Race 8: Fly The Flag.
