Big week could get better for Hill

A big week could get even bigger when Brendon Hill heads to Methven on Wednesday.

The harness racing trainer takes two horses to a rescheduled meeting after producing Jimmy James Maguire to win the NZB Standardbred Sales Series Classic at Kaikoura on Monday.

After brilliantly consistent form, the pacer finally nabbed a big race when leading throughout for his driver and part-owner Ricky May.

“He was really good; you’ve just got to step and get handy out on that track, and that’s what he did,” Hill said.

“The horse deserved it, and he’s got good owners; it was a good result.”

“The horse had been knocking for a while to get a big one, and it was great that he was able to get it.”

Hill is still deciding on what targets Jimmy James Maguire will be aimed at over New Zealand Cup Week.

But the trainer is reasonably sure he won’t target the Junior Free-For-All.

“I don’t think he will go to the Junior Free-For-All; he will probably race on one of the two days.”

“We will look at a grade race for him; it will probably be 1980m, which isn’t ideal because he likes a bit of distance.”

Hill will be out to continue his winning form at Methven on Wednesday with two starters. The trainer starts The Finisher fresh up without a trial in race 3, and he thinks the horse is forward enough to be competitive, with May in the sulky.

“I think he is fit enough to go there and go a good race if he steps,” Hill said.

“His work has been good; he is on the unruly for mobiles, so I thought we would give that a miss and try some stands.”

“He is cleared from a stand, but he is a bit of a fidgety horse around at the start, so it won’t be easy for Ricky.”

Hill also lines up Sergeant Best in race 11 on Wednesday.

The pacer looks up to matching motors with most of his rivals, but he must overcome drawing barrier 13.

“He has been going super; he hasn’t had good draws and he hasn’t had much luck, and he has copped that again.”

“But if they go hard and he is following the right horse, Sarge always puts in and lets down that last 150m-200m.”

Henry Sail takes the reins behind Sergeant Best at Methven.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand