NZ HARNESS NEWS
As the weather warms up around the country, so does the grass track harness racing action and if Saturday’s Geraldine Trotting Club meeting at Orari is anything to go by, then it’s going to be an intriguing summer.
With more than 200 nominations for the first of their two race days this season, the Geraldine club was never going to struggle for quality fields.
But above all else, their flagship event, the $25,000 Geraldine Cup, is a mouth-watering contest.
Featuring so many of the rising stars of the Canterbury pacing ranks, the 2850-metre event will set the tone for the coming weeks with a plethora of grass track action ahead.
Headed up by Seel The Deal, who tackled the New Zealand Trotting Cup and New Zealand Free-For-All last week, the field is littered with potential winners from the top of the book to the bottom.
The most notable entrant, however, is Cran Dalgety’s Raukapuka Ruler.
Last season’s Northern Derby winner will begin his four-year-old season in the event, looking to pick up where he left off at the end of last term.
And Dalgety is sure he’s better than ever.
“He’s come back in fantastic nick, he has really broadened out in the shoulders and looks like a bull.
“He’s pretty ready for this week, I wouldn’t expect him to be too far off the mark.”
Other serious contenders who are in good nick include Mickey Gee, James Dean and Mongolian Hero.
A win for Mickey Gee would mark a special result for driver, Sam Ottley who hails from just over the fence of the racecourse.
Her mother, Denise Ottley has a runner in the race as well in Tuapeka Cup winner, Rocki Warrior.
The free-wheeling pacer will be driven by Gerard O’Reilly.
Former top three-year-old filly of last season, Seaswift Joy will also contest the race with Johnny Morrison handling the driving duties on the Malcolm Shinn-trained mare.
He was in the bike at Addington last week where they ran a fast-finishing seventh behind Bonnie Joan.
“The draw didn’t help us at all, we got too far back and never really got into it.
“She found the line great though and I’m sure if she had been closer she wouldn’t have been right up there at the finish.
“The grass track should suit her, she’s raced well on them in the past.”
As well as the Cup, there’s a massive support card which also features some of the best trotters from around the region including Harriet Of Mot who looked set to win last week’s Dominion Handicap before a late gallop saw her lose out of commission.
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