Ottley chasing more trotting success

Samantha Ottley will chase more trotting success when she heads to Ashburton on Sunday. The reinswoman links up with two in-form squaregaiters in Lil Miss Muscles and Nortie Nortie among an unusually small book of three harness racing drives.

Ottley comes into the meeting after timing her run to perfection to help Crusher Collins bring up her 598th driving success at Winton yesterday.

Eight of the reinswoman’s 23 wins this season have come with trotters, including Murano at Rangiora last weekend.

Lil Miss Muscles (Muscle Mass) looks like she has all the credentials needed to win Sunday’s opener.

The Mark Jones trained four-year-old comes into her assignment after powering home to run a close second to Galleons Ambassador at Rangiora.

Ottley goes into Sunday’s event with just one concern, being horse 1 in race 1.

“The one draw, we probably didn’t want that, but her manners have been a lot better lately.”

“She hit the line better again last start.”

“It does look a field that if she goes as good again as she did in her last start, she should be right there.”

Ottley also combines with the Jones trained Nortie Nortie in race 3.

The three-year-old went a nice race first up at Rangiora before getting too far off the pace in his latest outing at Addington. Nortie Nortie looks to be striking a field he should be highly competitive in on Sunday.

“This should be an easier field for him.”

“We got back last time from the draw and it was only a sprint home.”

“He kept whacking away up the straight.”

“He looks like an each way chance.”

Ottley will again link up with The Conqueror in race 8.

Starting on the front line under his favoured standing start conditions looks a good scenario for the Trevor Harkness trained runner.

“He loves a stand, I haven’t driven in his last couple of starts but he looks like he has gone alright.”

“He is one of those horses that if he gets the right run, he can bob up.”

“He has got good manners from a stand, so that helps.”

Among a busy run in the sulky Ottley will be back in action at Addington on Tuesday.

For complete Ashburton race fields, click here.

by Jonny Turner