Ranger and Rewiri Hill looking to go back to back

Northern junior driver Monika Ranger has been in sparkling form of late, and this evening at Cambridge Raceway she’ll be looking to continue her winning roll when she partners last-start winner Rewiri Hill in the Race Ready With Betavet Handicap Trot (7:06 p.m.).

It’s been a standout season for the talented reinswoman, who is enjoying her most winningest season to date in the sulky. From just 98 drives, Ranger has recorded 19 wins, 12 seconds and 14 thirds, returning an impressive UDR of .3095. In the last month alone, she’s driven four winners.

“I’ve been really lucky to have the same trainers who have supported me throughout – Jeremy Young, Owen Gillies, and Matty White. David and Ben (Butcher)too.” Monika said

“Matty letting me drive Lord Popinjay when he doesn’t have a drive himself, and he’s one of the best horses in his barn, it’s pretty surreal. I’m extremely grateful.”

That partnership with Lord Popinjay has been one of the season’s highlights, with the pair notching their 10th win together at Alexandra Park last Friday night. For Ranger, who balances her racing commitments with a full-time role at Lincoln Farms, it’s been a year of steady progress.

“I’m working out at Lincoln Farms fulltime, and Shane and I have got our two out there as well, so we potter around with them,” she said.

Tonight, the focus turns to Rewiri Hill, a six-year-old Muscle Hill gelding trained by Jason Teaz, who will look to back up his last-start win at Cambridge earlier this month. On that occasion, the pair sat off the speed before producing a strong finishing burst to score by 1¼ lengths.

“He felt like he was still full of running at the line,” Monika said of that victory. “He’s progressing really well.”

The gelding steps up in both grade and distance tonight, starting from the front line over the 2700m trip, but Ranger believes he’s capable of handling the rise.

“It’s a little bit of a step up for him, there’s some nice enough horses in the field, but there’s no reason why he couldn’t run a drum if he’s handy,” she said. “It’s really going to depend on where we land, but I wouldn’t write him off as he’s still on the up!”

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by Jordyn Bublitz for Harness Racing New Zealand