By Michael Guerin
Trainer Steven Reid says he would have no hesitation in sacking himself as a driver.
But he is hoping he doesn’t have to do that after piloting two winning chances at the rare Alexandra Park Thursday night meeting tonight.
Reid has always been an under-rated driver and compiled a good strike rate when he took the reins regularly five years ago.
But he then went back to using more established drivers before recently deciding it was time to return to the sulky.
“I enjoy the driving and I think I know enough about the Alexandra Park racing style to do the horses justice there,” says Reid.
“Obviously there is a financial boost by driving but for me it is not about that.
“I think I’ll suit some of our horses but I’m not going to be silly about it.
“I’ll be honest enough to sack myself just as quickly as any other driver if I’m not getting the job done.”
While Reid and training partner Simon McMullen don’t have any superstars in the barn at the moment, they do have the highly promising Art Form, who returns in race seven tonight.
He was stunning winning his debut at Alexandra Park last season but then failed up against the best juveniles on an Addington campaign that Reid admits might have been rushed.
“I might have all been too much for him but when they are eligible for big money it is hard not to take them to those races.
“He has come back great though and I am as happy with him I could be without having a trial heading into this week.”
Reid rates Art Form a Sires’ Stakes grade horse so tonight’s race is a pipe-opener before the always anticipated opening heats of that series in a few weeks.
But therein lies the potential problem for Art Form — even though he only meets five rivals tonight there are some talented types amongst them as other three-year-olds also prepare for the series.
Toughest of those tonight should be Zach Maguire, who was a brave second from a tough drawn to a smart three-year-old in Kimani last Friday.
Reid also rates Concorde in race one tonight where he finds himself in the weaker, conditioned maiden away from the better non-winners.
“I think he is in the right race to win,” admits Reid.
“We also have a nice filly in that race called Booming Jet but I think she might take a couple of runs.”
Form from last Friday night’s meeting should ring true tonight as horses like Bettabe Perfect (race two), Opawa Speed (race three), Jo’s Dream (race four) and Acougarzsun (race eight) all stay in the same grade after winning because they were in non-penalty invited drivers races.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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