Greg and Nina’s Addington hopefuls

Woodend Beach trainers Greg and Nina Hope head to harness racing HQ tomorrow (Thursday) hoping to increase their season’s tally with their five runners. 

After having no luck in Auckland in May, three year old gelding Crown The Moment (Father Patrick) has returned home and has run second in his last three starts. However having drawn nine, he’ll have a tricky marble to work with. 

“He’ll be fine from that draw. Johnny’s (Dunn) got options and he’s pretty versatile. While he’s still racing well, we’ll keep going. We’re happy with him and we think he’ll make a lovely older horse. The racing hasn’t been knocking him around and we’ll see if we can get that maiden win before he has a break,” Greg said.  

In Race Two the Hopes have two runners: Mossdale Terry (Bettor’s Delight) who’s drawn seven and Tremendous Lover (Captaintreacherous) who has three on the second row. 

Mossdale Terry is in very good form at the moment after winning two starts ago. At his last start he chased Helium home, (Sky Major) getting within a head of the winner. 

“He’s training super and he’s probably the pick of our horses racing on Thursday night. We’ve stepped his training up. We’ve always thought he was quite a nice horse and finally he’s starting to repay Archie (owner Archie Affleck).” 

Tremendous Lover’s form line is relatively good, with a second and two fourths in his last four starts. 

“At his last start he tried to chase up when they were trying to hold their positions. They ran a twenty eight quarter, and it was set up for the horses at the back of the field. He still went quite a nice race. He hit the front and just got run down in the last fifty.”  

In Race Six three year old filly Maria Allegonda (Sweet Lou) draws one over 2600 metres from the mobile. She was unlucky at her last start.  

“She locked wheels with her stablemate and both of them were travelling and were probably going to run the quinella. It’s a bit of a bugger really because I thought she could have won. The field this week is a bit better but she’s racing well and would have to have a reasonable chance.” 

To round the night out, aged gelding Jack Tar (Tintin In America) has drawn barrier seven in Race Seven. 

“He’s come down from the North Island and he really loves the beach. He’s been racing consistent. He makes it tough on himself because he likes to be on the speed so he ends up getting a pretty hard race. Hopefully they go hard. We’re expecting another honest race from him.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink