Luck required for DeFilippi trio

Broadfield harness racing trainers Colin and Julie DeFilippi admit luck could take them a long way with their three charges at Rangiora today.

The couple will line up two of those horses in race eight the Robin and Geraldine Rangiora Classic for $30,000, with full brothers Here’s Herbie ($6.50FF, Bob Butt) and Heza Sport ($8.00FF, Samantha Ottley).

Heza Sport (Sportswriter) ran a close second last week to Jimmy James Maguire in the Hororata Cup at Methven, going down by only one length.

“He’s been a little bit disappointing, but last week was much better at Methven.

“He’s on the improve and he’s come through that run good.

“About five or six starts back at Methven he began so good I chased him up a bit and he went out of his gear. Since then he’d been a bit hesitant, but last week was the best he’s begun for a while. Bob (Butt) knows the horse. He’s probably the best chance of the two being race fit and giving the other fella 10m.”

Heza Sport is yet to win on the grass surface, but has been no worse than three lengths from the winner in his most recent attempts on the grass.

Here’s Herbie (Sportswriter) will be looking to complete a hat trick of wins fresh up today in the same race. He has not raced since winning the Rangiora Summer Cup on December 17th at this venue, and before that winning the Geraldine Cup on December 9th.

“I’m happy with his work. Just the one workout coming into it, which was a wee bit tame. But I was happy with his run.

“If anything he could be a run short today not having raced for seven or eight weeks. He has gone good fresh in the past, but that was further down in the grade.

“The draw will suit him and hopefully he will be able to poke up the fence for a last crack at them.”

Samantha Ottley will take the drive, and begin from the 20m backmark.

Other strong chances in the event include the Robert and Jenna Dunn trio Double Time ($6.00FF, Gavin Smith), Dalton Shard ($6.00FF, Korbyn Newman) and Dashing Major ($16.00FF, Tim Williams), while backmarkers Franco Marek ($6.00FF, John Morrison) and Homebush Lad ($9.00FF, Ben Hope) will look to get over them late.

The race is due to start at 3:08pm.

DeFilippi’s third runner of the day, A Dancin Rocka ($12.00FF, Bob Butt), lines up in race ten the PJL (Power Jointing Limited) pace.

DeFilippi is optimistic about the four year old A Rocknroll Dance’s chances given the size of the field and his 10m back mark.

“He felt good in the running in his last start, but we got too far back.”

“The draw is not going to be good. There is a chance he could get handy. But he’ll have to do a wee bit of work from that draw.”

“He’s a good each way chance.”

Earlier on in the card the ‘When’ Commemoration Trot will be run. It will be a rare but intriguing sight for the lower grade (R35-R39) trotters to tackle the 1609m stand from the chute. The race commemorates the record setting run of ‘When’, who on March 16 1963 set a new mark of 2.06 for a standing start mile on the grass at Rangiora. In what is a very even field, the current favourite is Illegal Alien ($2.40FF, Tim Williams) for Kaiapoi trainer Kevin James. Punters should note there is a front line limit of 8 for this event.

Racing commences from 11:55am.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Mike Love, for Harness Racing New Zealand