Trots Centre: Lang ready to make some noise with fresh faces

There’s a bit to learn for a man who’s been there, done that plenty of times before at Kilmore tonight, with trainer-driver Chris Lang eager to see how his two prospects shape up.

While a scratching has reduced Lang’s hand from three starters to two, there’s still plenty to discover from his promising three-year-old pacer (Soextra) and second-up former Kiwi trotter (Full Noise), who are chasing successive wins.

For Soextra, tonight’s hit-out is in large part about race education, with the three-year-old being steered towards November’s Breeders Crown and December’s Vicbred Super Series.

Tonight’s Jet Roofing Pace marks his sixth career start and a chance to add a fourth win, having returned from a five-month spell with a last-start victory by a neck at Bendigo on August 26.

“He has never really been race hardened, so that race will really do him good,” Lang said. “He’ll definitely be improved by racing.”

Victorious in his first two career starts, Soextra’s primary test to date came in the Group 3 VHRC Victoria Sires Classic against the likes of Pacifico Dream, Sahara Sirocco and Youaremy Sunshine, who filled the first three placings.

Soextra was found wanting, tiring and finish 60 metres second-last, but Lang said “he didn’t travel well” and so the jury remained out as to whether he could challenge his age category’s leading horses.

“I think he is an above average three-year-old,” Lang said. “I don’t know if he measures against the best of his age group, but he is definitely an above average horse.”

Tonight will be another step in the process towards tackling the forthcoming futurity series. Soextra has been rated the second best chance in the 55-62 rated pace, which pits the young gelding up against the likes six-time winning mare Diamond Cullen.

“There are mares in that get the concession, which is great for them, but it means he will be racing against faster class mares,” Lang said.

“It’s an honest field, it won’t be easy to beat. He has a good trailing draw and, after the scratching, will be on the back of the favourite (Celestial Gossip). That probably helps me, it’s a good field, but I expect he will put in a bold showing.”

He expects similar of Full Noise, who will likely start favourite in the J & A Mazzetti Trotters Handicap, with the four-year-old having won on his Australian debut for Lang after previously racing for New Zealand trainer Brett Gray.

“I was hoping he was going to be a free-for-all horse, we don’t yet know if he will be that good,” Lang said.

“With what’s going on in the world (covid-19), we weren’t able to jump across and drive him in New Zealand. He came from down south and was not up against the better opposition. That is good and bad, but maybe if he gets racing against better horses he can improve.

“You do have to take a leap of faith and if you see something you like back your judgment. He’s a big strong horse by Majestic Son out of a Sundon mare, so his breeding is as good as any.”

And, so far so good, with Full Noise winning on his Australian debut when he survived a late charge from Quality Sunset to win by a head, with a further six metres back to third-placed Flaming Fives.

“He had some issues leading up to his first race and he should go better. This is obviously a step up for Full Noise, Stress Factor is a very good horse on his day, but he will acquit himself well.”

Lang had also initially entered two-year-old trotting filly Queen Invasion to make her debut tonight, but she was scratched, which he expected was just a short-term setback that they were still investigating.

“She’s been going along well,” Lang said of the unraced Muscle Hill filly who’s a half-sister to Lord Liam ($281,550). “Obviously she is well bred, I don’t know if she will be as good as her big brother but she looks like she will pay her way.”

Lang said she would be directed towards the Breeders Crown and Vicbred Super Series.

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