Bettor Be Sharp going for three in a row

Bettor Be Sharp (Bettors Delight) will be gunning for a hat-trick of harness racing wins at Timaru today.

Ashburton trainer and driver Gerard O’Reilly has just the one runner engaged at the Phar Lap Raceway, with the six-year-old Bettors Delight gelding in great form after successes at Addington and Banks Peninsula.

Drawn the only runner on the second line over 2600m in Race 6, the Night’N Day Park Timaru Mobile for junior drivers Bettor Be Sharp will be driven by in-form driver Gemma Thornley.

“He’s come through his last run very nicely,” said O’Reilly.

“He’s been working along good too. ”

In what looks to be a speedy front line, Bettor Be Sharp may be biding his time over the longer distance which he has won once from 11 attempts.

“He races so consistently.”

“We’re just hoping for more of the same he does every start. He will need a bit of luck from the second row.”

Bettor Be Sharp is currently paying $9.00FF while the favoured runners are Tokyo Rose $2.60FF, Gatecrasher $5.00FF and the Bruce Negus pair Quinn $5.00FF and Katherine $6.50FF.

Though O’Reilly does not drive his runner Bettor Be Sharp, he is engaged to drive six runners on the card including two for trainer Michael Heenan that look solid each way chances.

In Race 1, the Brosnan Transport LTD Trot Monaro Meg ($6.50FF) will be looking to break her maidens at start number 26 third up this campaign.

While Heenan’s other runner Troubleshooter ($5.50FF) in Race 3, the Fire & Safety Training (Fast) pace over 2600m looks a strong chance after a big performance for second at Banks Peninsula on December 29.

O’Reilly’s other drives come in Race 4 Itz All Fired Up (Simon Adlam), Race 7 Ultimate Counsel (Nigel Perkins), Race 8 Emma Swan (Tracey Healy) and Race 10 Hilda Maud (Angela Washington).

Gemma Thornley has just one other drive on the programme, last start winner Lotus Franco in Race 9 for trainer Steven McRae.

Racing commences at 3.29pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Mike Love, for Harness Racing New Zealand