By Matt Markham
He’s ticking things off the bucket list left, right and centre and this weekend Greg Hope has a chance to cross another milestone off when he heads to the top of the South Island and to Richmond Park in Nelson.
Hope heads to the meeting having trained 48 winners at Richmond Park during his career, five of them coming while training on his own account and a further 43 coming since he joined in partnership with his wife Nina.
And with a particularly ominous looking line up of horses from the stable in action this weekend, there’s every chance that he will achieve the required two wins before the weekend is out.
The stable has dominated Nelson over the past few years with a number of winners coming from their trips up the Coast from Woodend Beach including a six win haul up at the same two-day meeting last season.
Today’s team of runners totals eight with the little known pacer, A G’s White Socks the stable’s leading chance for the day.
He finished a strong second behind Usain Colt, who contests the Nelson Summer Cup Prelude earlier in the day, at the Mt Hutt Workouts at Methven last Saturday – showing his readiness for this week’s assignment.
“He’s a pretty nice horse, we’ve got a fair bit of time for him,” Greg Hope said.
“He won first up at Oamaru, after being unbeaten off the place. That workout is the only time he’s actually been beaten in public.”
A Rock N Roll Heaven three-year-old gelding, A G’s White Socks is a half-brother to former open class pacer, Power Of Tara.
“I don’t know what to expect from him this season, but we will see what happens at Nelson and then go from there.
“I’d like to think he’s got a decent future in front of him.”
The Hope’s took a large team to Methven last weekend to have their final hit out before today’s meeting and A G’s White Socks was just one of a number of impressive performers.
Usain Colt showed a very good turn of foot to win the feature heat of the day with young Ben Hope in the sulky.
“He’s going really good against good fields, he’d be a chance this week with a bit of luck.”
Mares Bella Jones and Emily Blunt won’t get many better chances to get another win than their respective races while there are also big chances from Unico Legend, Gold Sovereign and Franco Lamar.
The entire team with be driven today by regular stable driver, Ricky May.
Super Selector – By Matt Markham
Race 1: Hayden’s Meddle, Calendar Girls, Mac Toddy, Black Art
Race 2: BD Khaosan, Gold Sovereign, Muscles Galore, Fira Sunset
Race 3: Jimmy Nga, Kotare Mist, Wall Street Wolf, The New Man
Race 4: JJ’S Delight, Spooky, Out Of Aces, Johnny White
Race 5: Unico Legend, Returntorocknroll, Smooth N Easy, One Off
Race 6: The Govenor, Mighty Empire, Franco Lamar, Go Davey
Race 7: Prestine, Alvia Hest, Little Mo, Lady Beatrix Bourbon
Race 8: Usain Colt, Franco Texas, Linton Shard, Miss Daisy
Race 9: Bella Jones, Living Legend, Rum Delight, Nova Time
Race 10: A G’s White Socks, Waimac Attack, Mrs Browns Boys, Gunpowder
Race 11: Billy Badger, Franco Saxon, Emily Blunt, Torrid Bromac
Best Bet: Bella Jones (Race 9)
Value: JJ’s Delight (Race 4)
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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