Robbie Holmes is back driving Paramount Geegee in the Northern Trotting Derby on Friday night.
Paramount Geegee won the $70,000 Sires' Stakes Final for 3yr-old trotters at Alexandra Park last Friday when driven for the first time by Joshua Dickie, the 20-year-old junior reinsman and son of trainer John Dickie.
Holmes drove stablemate Flying Isa to win the New Zealand Trotting Stakes at Addington 15 minutes later. He has driven Paramount Geegee in seven of his 11 wins.
"Joshua did a good job. I felt he [Paramount Geegee] was very vulnerable on Friday night as he had missed work since his previous race [March 3 at Rangiora]," John Dickie said. "He had a cough when he came back from Canterbury, then caught a leg in a fence and we had to take him to Auckland last Tuesday for a decent hitout." Thanesan, who was scratched last Friday when running a temperature, is an acceptor for the Northern Trotting Derby.
"He has bounced back and I will decide on a start after I work him on Wednesday," Tim Butt, his trainer, said.
Stablemate Raglan, who won at Alexandra Park last Friday, is on the road back to West Melton today. Raglan has been entered for the $50,000 Rangiora Classic on Sunday.
The Butt stable has Choise Achiever in the New Zealand Messenger on Friday night.
Choise Achiever ran a sound fourth in the Taylor Mile (1700m) last Friday.
"He should go on with it as he has had a setback with a foot infection," Butt said.
Heza Rebel and Ripalong, both last-start winners, are now in the Burnham stable of Mark Jones after being sold by Omakau owner-trainer Jim Morgan.
Ripalong won at Gore on March 13 at his fourth start. Heza Rebel was successful at Invercargill on April 3 at his fifth attempt. Both are 3yr-olds by Washington VC.
Results of trials at Forbury Park yesterday.-
Weather, overcast; track, fast.
Qualifying test, trotters, 2200m: Forrest Heights A Malcolmson 1; The Pearl Of Paris 2. Two started. 13L. Time, 2.59.9 (two qualified). Trainer, E Lamb.
Qualifying test, pacers, 2200m: Crown Royal N Buchan 1; Tom And Grace 2; Killawat 3. Four started. 6L, dist. Time, 2.53.2 (first two qualified). Trainer, K Dance.
0-1w trotters, 2200m: Sunny's Dream A Clark 1; Murphy's Mate 2; Head Aitken 3. Six started. 11L, 2L. Time, 3.03.1.
Trainer, A Clark.
0-3w pacers, 2200m: Waihemo Caesar L Crawford 1; Noenuffinmypocket 10 2; Forrest Flame 3. Three started. 1L, 4L. Time, 3.02.1. Trainer, J Gamble.
0w pacers and trotter, mobile, 2200m: She's No Fool E Lamb 1; Big Rocket 2; Zoogin (t) 3. Three started. 2L, 3L.
Time, 2.57.4. Trainer, B O'Connor.
1-3w trotters, 2200m: Lucy Hest C Harvey 1; Final Secret 2; Mum Beat Lyall 10 3. Five started. 3L, nse. Time, 3.01.3.
Trainer, R Hanson.
