House team confident heading to Manawatu

Racing is back in the Manawatu today and junior harness racing driver Wilson House is feeling confident with the team of eight horses trainer Michael House has contending at the meeting.

“Most of them have been racing and working well and I’d like to think most of them can feature in the placings” says House.

Their first starter is Love Is Everywhere (Windsong Espoir) in Race two, the Happy Birthday Allan Brown Handicap Trot over 2500 metres. The mare ran second at Hawera two starts ago and has won two wins and two placings to her name at Manawatu Raceway.

“She’s off the front today and is a good starter, she handles this track well and should go a good race” says House.

Next up is Morere (Sweet Lou) who starts in Race four, the Partners Night Thursday Mobile Pace. The gelding finished third and second at Hawera in his previous two starts but makes his Palmerston North debut today.

“He has been a bit of an under achiever so far and he’s had a few niggles” says House “His track work is very good and I think he should turn out a nice enough horse and having drawn eight today he’s drawn to get a nice trip.”

In Race five, the South Rangitikei Vet Services Mobile Pace, House drives Doctor Tim (Bettor’s Delight). A three time winner on this track, the gelding finished a strong second at Rangiora on the 3rd March making up plenty of ground late.

“His last run was great and I think he’s probably my best chance of the day” says House.

The stable has two runners contending Race seven, the C A Penny F&M Race 28 March $18,000 Mobile Pace. The field features five last start winners including the House trained Lamarli, (A Rocknroll Dance) driven by Sailesh Abernethy, who won back to back races at Hawera last month. The stables other runner, Avenger (Sweet Lou), is driven by House.

“Lamarli is probably the better of the two but Avenger has gone some tough races on the grass but we are yet to see how he’ll handle the grit track” says House.

In the final race of the day, the House stable line up Superstar Legend (Rock N Roll Heaven), driven by House, and Warloch (Well Said), driven by Blair Orange. Race eight, the Thank You Gary Woodham Mobile Pace, consists of just four starters and both House runners have excellent records on the track with Superstar Legend having seven of his fifteen wins at Manawatu.

“Warloch is a trusty old steed and Superstar Legend will likely get the lead fairly comfortably tomorrow” says House “I’d like to hope one of the old boys can get a win.

Race one gets underway today at 3:04pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Brigette Solomon, for Harness Racing New Zealand