Ima Gold Digger has form on the board this season to win the $40,000 Trotters' Flying Mile at Cambridge tonight.
Ima Gold Digger won over a mile at Ashburton in October in 1.56.7 and he was successful in the New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All.
His time at Ashburton compared with the National record of 1.55.6 set by Lyell Creek at Ashburton in 2000. Lyell Creek carried on to win the Cambridge mile that season in 1.56.7, a track record. equalled by I Can Doosit at the Harness Jewels in June.
Ima Gold Digger ran fourth in the Harness Jewels and at his last start he ran I Can Doosit to half a length at Alexandra Park.
Sovereignty, who finished third that night, is among those opposing Ima Gold Digger.
Sovereignty won the Cambridge mile in 2008 in 1.59.9.
He has won five of his eight starts at Cambridge where he is trained.
Stylish Monarch will be driven for the first time by Richard Brosnan, who drove Fraggle Rock to win the race in 1993 for trainer Carl Middleton.
Stylish Monarch, who is based at the Brosnan stable at Papakura, won the Dominion Handicap last month but he left stride in the run up and lost all chance in his subsequent start at Alexandra Park.
The Nigel McGrath-trained Anvils Top Gun, who is based with Andrew Neal at Cambridge, is a top chance in race 4.
He finished second to Charge Forward at Alexandra Park last Friday night.
• Geoff Small is able to resume training after being granted a stay of proceedings in regard to his appeal against a six-month suspension states a release from Harness Racing New Zealand.
He appealed the training and driving suspension imposed in Victoria.
His horse Zenad returned positive test to aminocaproic acid after a win at Moonee Valley on February 7, 2009.
Small has served one month and 20 days of the suspension. The appeal is set down for April 4-6. His brother Ian took over the training role when Geoff began his suspension on November 1.
Geoff has not chosen to transfer the horses back to his name.
• Ron Barron, the senior Southland trainer, produced Braeview Red for an impressive first up win at Invercargill yesterday.
He trains Braeview Red for Ollie and Irene Haines, of Cambridge.
They bred the gelding with Ricky and Janet Larsen, of Lochiel.
Braeview Red, who qualified 14 months ago for Kirk Larsen, is the eighth foal of Sam's Girl, who has left minor winners.
The Red River Hanover 4yr-old has been with Barron for three months.
Braeview Red was driven by Clark Barron, who trained and drove Olgoldnblack and Verasprideandglory to win.
