I Can Doosit could come into his own in the Dominion Handicap at Addington today in the absence of Stylish Monarch, winner of the race last year.
Stylish Monarch injured a leg in the New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All on Tuesday.
"It looks as though he smacked into the mobile barrier after there was a false start and it stopped suddenly. His hind legs have gone under him," Murray Tapper, the trainer of Stylish Monarch, said yesterday.
"It looks like he has bruised a heel. He was chronically lame on Wednesday and I had the vet to him and the trouble was pin-pointed in his off hind foot. He is a lot better now."
Tapper said he would give Stylish Monarch a break of 10 days and hopefully have him back racing early in the new year.
I Can Doosit finished second to Stylish Monarch in the Dominion last year. He subsequently won the Interdominion Trotters' Final and Rowe Cup in Auckland.
Vulcan, winner of the New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All on Tuesday, has the great record of trainer Tim and reinsman Anthony Butt on his side. They have won the Dominion Handicap seven times, including a dead-heat.
Springbank Richard, winner of the Dominion Handicap two years ago, is capable of making his presence felt. He finished fourth last year.
Dr Hook has won three of his five starts this season, suggesting he has matured since finishing second to I Can Doosit in the Rowe Cup (3200m). He has won the Canterbury Park Cup and the Trotters' Mile at Ashburton in close to New Zealand record time of 1.56.2.
Smoken Up is favourite for the New Zealand Free-For-All after his second to Terror To Love in the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday. Terror To Love has his next start in the Miracle Mile at Menangle.
Smoken Up finished third to Monkey King and Bondy in the 2009 New Zealand Free-For-All. He did not contest the race last year when Monkey King was again successful.
• The trainers of Terror To Love, Graham and Paul Court, and owner Terry McDonald, struck at Ashburton yesterday when Mel Gibson won a maiden trot by seven lengths.
Mel Gibson, who was having his third start, is 4yr-old entire by Pegasus Spur from Pride Of Petite, winner of the Interdominion Trotters' Final in 1996 and 1997. She has left other winners including Petite Sunset (seven wins).
Mel Gibson was a $25,000 purchase at the 2009 Australasian Classic yearling sale.
• Bettor's Fire, who won at his first start yesterday, is a 3yr-old half-brother to Diomedes and Empyrean. They are the first three foals of Sparks A Flyin.
Bettor's Fire is trained by Cran Dalgety for Jim and Susan Wakefield. They teamed to win the Sires' Stakes Final with Texican on Tuesday. Both horses were driven by Dexter Dunn.
