In-form trotters poised at Addington

Runner-up efforts in their last starts has put harness racing victory in the sights of two trotters stepping out at Addington on Friday night (Aug. 4).

The Regan Todd trained Lavra Solitaire (Muscle Hill) looks to be honing in on a win after placing in her first two career starts.

Lavra Solitaire has been rated the early second favourite ($3.20) for race 2.

Todd is hoping he can bag a win for owner Kypros Kotzikos, who owns Lavros Lodge where he trains his team.

“She has been going good races, manners are the key, if she is able to do things right she should be hard to beat,” Todd said.

“She has taken a little bit to come to it, but we have been quite happy with her lately.”

“It would be great to get a win for Kypros, he is away at the moment but I am sure he will be tuned in to watch her.”

The River Boy ($3) opened the early favourite for race 1 at Addington.

The Ken Barron trained trotter comes into the event following a second placing behind Head Em Up who looks a talented type.

River Boy (2nd) beat home Lavra Solitaire (3rd) in his previous outing at Addington.

Gift Card (Father Patrick) heads into race 3 after a last start second placing among a capacity field for the Darren DeFilippi Memorial Trot.

That effort was the latest in a run of six placings by the southern trotter trained by Jamie Campbell.

Campbell, who has Gift Card based at Colin and Julie DeFilippi’s stable, was pleased with his horse’s second placing in what looks like a slightly stronger field to the one he meets on Friday night.

“We are hoping it will be his turn this week, it does look to be a slightly easier field than he raced in the Darren De Filippi.”

“It was an absolute honour to run second in Darren’s race, we were all there and we were screaming him home,”

“He seems to have developed a bit of speed and he seems to have strengthened up, as well.”

“Colin was rapt with him when he drove him a couple of starts ago, he said he sprinted up really nicely.”

“Hopefully he will get his turn, if not this week there is another race for him the week after.”

Gift Card opened the $3 favourite for race 3 ahead of Master Class ($3.80).

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand