It’s a close race for bragging rights on who will be the most successful driver and trainer heading into the final meeting of the season on the Motukarara track this season.
After five meetings for the Banks Peninsula Trotting Club and a further one for the Akaroa Trotting Club, it’s all nice and friendly at the top of the lists for winners over the season with Ricky May leading the drivers’ table and Greg and Nina Hope on top of the trainers.
Taking into account only wins, May has six driving successes on the green top of Motukarara while the Hopes have four training wins next to their name.
Winners this season have come from Westar Sam, Ella Abbe, Gershwin., Harrysul and English Rose for the May and Hopes’ combination while May was also successful on Novak for Laurence Hanrahan.
The Hope’s only chance of adding to their tally for the day comes in the first race when they line Eastwood Cheiftain up in the amatuer drivers event with Paul Wallace in the sulky.
May’s chances are limited to just six on the 11 races card with some tidy drives including that of debutant Mo Farah who hails from the stable of his father, Terry.
An Ohoka Arizona three-year-old from The Tough Tart, who was bred by May’ wife Judy, Mo Farah was an impressive winner at the Ashburton trials recently.
Judy will be looking for her second success of the weekend as an owner after Cullenz Diamond was successful for her at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
Jessica Young (five wins), Blair Orange (five) and Dexter Dunn, Craig Thornley, Robbie Holmes and Sam Ottley are all nipping at the heels of May in the driver’s wins column while 11 trainers have trained two winners each during the season at the track behind the Hope team’s tally.
All counted, 19 horses will race today who have won on the track already this season with the likes of Maganfique, Celestial Arden, Queen Bee Bardon, Momentous, Novak and Leading The Way all chances to double up in their respective races.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
