Tomlinson with five tidy drives at today

A half brother to open class pacer Beach Ball will be among Sheree Tomlinson’s five harness racing drives at Addington today.

The winner of 17 races this season so far, Tomlinson looks to have a number of good drives, with Bannockburn the last of them in race 7 (4.00pm).

Kicking off Tomlinson’s day in race 1, the Original Sin Mobile Pace, will be Big Mama Morris ($8.00FF) for trainer Amber Lethaby. She looks likely to get a soft trip on the markers, drawn one the second line, following out race favourite Krystal Delight.

“With the draw we’ve got it should go pretty good. It’s definitely got a good chance of running in the top three or four in an even field and with a good run,” said Tomlinson.

Natives Blazin Son ($18.00FF) for trainer Fiona Baigent is a horse that Tomlinson has some time for in the LSG Sky Chefs Mobile Trot. In only its fifth race day appearance today, the son of Majestic Son will look to have an error free race to be in the finish.

“He could win a maiden race pretty quickly I think. It just hasn’t had things go it’s way in the last few starts. Its standing start manners have been good and the fitness should be there now having had a few starts back. He’s definitely not the worst.”

Brad Mowbray’s Art Major filly Okiwi Bay ($18.00FF) lines up in race 4, The Birdwood Mobile Pace. In what appeared to be an unlucky effort at her last start, Tomlinson suggests the filly may not have had much left to offer regardless of the fact they never got a crack at them.

“She hasn’t really been finding the line too well lately. She does have the ability to win a maiden. She will just need luck and need to improve a bit.”

Tomlinson then steers family trained Brian Beat ($6.50FF) for Ken Ford and Amanda Tomlinson. The four-year-old Majestic Son gelding has been racing competitively recently, although Tomlinson would prefer a shorter distance today in the Dimitris Trot.

“I wish it was a 2000m stand, then I’d be more confident. He’s definitely competitive though. He went good enough last week to suggest he should be in the top three or four. He has such good manners he can get handy without doing too much.”

Tomlinson will then team up with trainer Kevin Chapman and debutant runner Bannockburn ($5.50FF) in race 7, the Gerry’s Bakery pace. The three-year-old gelding by Locharburn is a half to open class pacer Beach Ball – both Locharburn and Beach Ball were also trained by Chapman.

“I don’t mind this horse. Every time I’ve driven it at the trials it’s improved. He can step pretty good from the stand and I doubt Kevin (Chapman) would be bringing him if he didn’t think he was ready.”

Racing commences from 12:47pm.

For complete race results, click here.

by Mike Love, for Harness Racing New Zealand