Carl Hanna has been engaged for White Socks in the race for junior drivers at Forbury Park on Friday night in the absence of his regular driver, Matthew Williamson.
White Socks won a graduation final at Forbury Park last Thursday after success on the same track a week earlier. He had returned to racing after a 17-month break.
He has come through the race "super", Geoff Knight, his Roxburgh co-trainer, said.
"I wasn't going to start him but it is a penalty-free race and there is not much for him for a while after that so he will then have a spell." Williamson is on holiday for a week. He drove the Geoff and Judy Knight-trained Trojan to an upset win at Auckland last Friday night on his way overseas.
Williamson will continue his association with Trojan in Auckland on Friday week.
Royal Courage is a newcomer to the Knight stable. He is in the claiming race on Friday night with a price tag of $6000.
Royal Courage was claimed for $3000 last Thursday by Joan Braam, of Dunedin. She said Royal Courage would remain with trainer Bruce Negus but that it is not permitted under the claiming regulations. The horse must be out of the stable for at least a month.
• Stirling Point, winner of his two starts since joining the Clevedon stable of Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, is in the $15,000 Thames Pacing Cup on Friday night.
Stirling Point, owned by Ben and Karen Calder, of Ryal Bush, won three races when trained by Allan Beck at Winton but he had been off the winning list 18 months.
• Jazmin Robyn, winner of the Nelson Winter Cup and the cup prelude this month, is in a $3000 race at Addington today.
• Makarewa Sun won first up in Australia on Sunday. The 9yr-old trotter, part-owned by Ron Barron and Ritchie McDonald, of Invercargill, ran a mile in 2.00.2 from a standing start at Menangle.
The Sundon gelding is now trained by Darren Hancock.
• Reginaldo has been sold to Queensland. He won races when trained by Jimmy Bond and earlier Ken McRae.
• Franco Jamar won a workout from a 50m handicap at Rangiora on Saturday in 3.19.4 for 2600m.
The winner of 12 races, including three this season, Franco Jamar was spelled in April by trainer Steve Dolan.
Stablemate Dream Out Loud finished second to Kotare Yaakov in a workout. Dream Out Loud was spelled after a win at Ascot Park in April, his second in two starts. He has been set for the Superstars Championship in the spring.
Kotare Yaakov won a workout at Motukarara the previous week.
