Is today the day for Royal Reactor

Plenty-based harness racing trainer Ben Richardson will head to Carrick Park on Friday afternoon with only one runner, Royal Reactor (Auckland Reactor), who will contest the Bendigo Bank Trainers Incentive Prelude.

The seven-year-old gelding only snuck into the field when conditions of the race were altered after acceptance time on Wednesday in an attempt to run heats of the race, which sees the final held on 11 February with a winning sulky to be presented to the winning trainer.

The gelded son of Auckland Reactor has been out of the winners list since August 2022, and so far this season, he has been placed in both outings, with trainer Ben Richardson happy with the pacer’s consistency.

“He has collected a cheque his last six starts, so I’m happy with that.

“He is doing quite well but still can’t break through for a win; I thought last week was going to be it, but he just couldn’t quite get there,” Richardson said.

“He is a nice little horse that should be winning races, but it’s just hard to pick the right race for him, and then when we do, he just needs a bit of luck as well.

“He is a horse that needs to be driven with a sit and get out at the last moment. He can’t do it too tough.

“I wasn’t going there, but the conditions changed, and we were able to sneak in. I hope he backs up ok (as it’s his third run in three weeks). He backed up well last week. He has been kept fresh this week, so hopefully, he can be.

“We need a bit of luck, but he is racing well, feeling well, so I cant do much more. It’s all up to Ricky Duggan (driver) now,” added the trainer.

Friday’s eight-race card commences at 14:05 and will be shown on TasracingTV and Sky Racing 2, with the Nutrien Equine Tasmanian Harness Racing Yearling Sale to be held after the meeting at 19:00.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Duncan Dornauf, for Tasracing