“The Beast” is back in Gore today

The beast is back in town.

Robyns Playboy (Shadow Play), who earned the nickname The Beast From The East with form that sent him through to open class, heads back to his home track at Gore today in search of back-to-back harness racing wins.

After slipping down into a low grade for a horse of his ability, the pacer took care of business when winning fresh up at Ascot Park a fortnight ago for trainers Ross and Chris Wilson.

Robyns Playboy got into the lower grades following a string of mixed performances in his last campaign.

After one of his longer stints in the spelling paddock the horse bounced straight back to winning form in just one start.

But judging by what the Wilsons are seeing in their 96-start veteran, there is still plenty more to come from their popular pacer.

“He is a horse that always goes well fresh and he is always ready before you think,” Chris Wilson said.

“He was jumping out of his skin before Invercargill, so when he won it wasn’t a surprise to us.”

“He wasn’t at his best at the end of last season, but he’s had probably the biggest rest he’s ever had.”

“We are being really light on him in his work just keeping him happy, he didn’t seem to enjoy too much work last time in.”

“I would say he feels like he is back to his best now.”

Robyns Playboy steps back up in grade after his last start win when stepping out in race 7 at Gore, the GWD Motor Group/Tyreland Gore Mobile Pace.

But as he does, he still gets some advantage in drawing inside his two main rivals Step It Up A Notch and Herb.

Chris Wilson has two more chances to land a win as the Gore club president.

Hot Fizz and Robyns Art are both expected to benefit from their outings as they return fresh up.

Kite with two top chances at Gore

In a turning of the tables at Gore on Thursday it will be Nathan Williamson that will hand the reins over.

Williamson will chase two penalty-free wins with junior driver Ollie Kite who combines with returning charges Hidden Talent and Rise Up N Dance.

The trainer doesn’t just have confidence in Kite, but also in where his horses are at ahead of their return.

Rise Up N Dance returns to racing following a mixed campaign in which he produces some strong performances without much luck.

One of those efforts was a second placing in the South Of The Waitaki event on Show Day at Addington last year which looks outstanding form to bring to race 5, the Phoebe Stud Grass Roots Breeding Mobile Pace.

“He had a good break and he seems to have has come up well,” Williamson said.

“He trialled at Gore and he went nice.”

“He can be a bit casual with the blinds off but I was happy with him and they are back on, on Thursday.”

“I have been happy with him since and it looks a suitable race for him, so I am expecting a nice run.”

Kite combined with Hidden Talent to win when she returned last year and the junior driver will attempt to repeat the dose in race 4, the Baynes Family Handicap Trot.

The Group 1 placegetter has trialled once with Kite in the bike ahead of her return, and it looked like strong work.

“She has had a good buildup and her workout was good,” Williamson said.

“I have been happy with her since then, she has been casual in her work and seems pretty happy in herself.”

“She’s coming off the back mark, I would like to think if she was close enough to them she would be hard to beat.”

Williamson won’t be on the sidelines throughout the Gore meeting on Thursday.

Of his outside drives, Cranachan looks the top pick in race 3, the Macca Lodge Mobile Pace.

The Brent McIntyre trained pacer brings strong trial form to what looks like a winnable race.

“His workouts have been handy and he gets into the right race, so he would have to be a good chance.”

Our Rose Hill also looks an each way threat for Williamson in race 1, the Gavelhouse Handicap Trot.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Jonny Turner, for Harness Racing New Zealand