Tomlinson hoping for more of the same on Sunday

Sheree Tomlinson knows Sunday’s (Jan. 22) harness racing meeting at Blenheim is going to be a tough act to follow.

On Friday (Jan. 20) on the grass at Waterlea, Tomlinson produced a personal best four winners, bookending the programme with Brian Beatt (Majestic Son), paying $31.70 in the first, and favourite Whats Wanted (Creatine) in the last. Her other victories were with Fourth Amendment (American Ideal) for trainer Brad Mowbray, and Zsa Zoe (Majestic Son) in Race 5.

“It was amazing.”

For Tomlinson, who famously drove Amaretto Sun to an upset win in the 2017 Dominion, it was another career highlight.

“I’ve had three winners before but never four… it was a big buzz.”

And it wasn’t just Tomlinson celebrating “with a couple of drinks back in the motel”.

It was very much a family affair, with three of the four winners – Brian Beatt, Zsa Zoe and Whats Wanted – trained by Amanda Tomlinson and Ken Ford.

“It was a great achievement that Mum and Granddad bred, own and trained three wins with trotters in a day, it’s an incredible effort.”

Tomlinson clearly has a soft spot for Zsa Zoe, who picked up her 12th win in 106 starts.

“She wasn’t even meant to make the trip … I was in Central (Otago) and Mum rang me and said she’d had a quarter crack come on.”

They then sent her to Regan Todd’s place where she was swimming a lot and then she’d been “at Rabbit Island walking in the surf and trotting up and down the beach.”

“So it was awesome she came out and won that race.”

ZSA ZOE REPLAY

On Sunday she’ll line up in the Graham Neill Memorial Trotting Cup against the likes of Excuse My French, Sioux Princess, Heston Hall and Muscle Bank.

“She’ll go back 10 metres … hopefully she won’t get too far back and will be running on.”

Whats Wanted won’t back up for day two of the meeting though.

“He would have been in Zsa Zoe’s race and being a three-year-old in a 2800 metre race it’s too tough so he has the whole season to look forward to.”

Tomlinson has a solid book of drives again.

As well as rating Zsa Zoe as a top three chance she thinks others can run in the money as well.

“Tane J J (Race 4) has a good draw and could be top three or four with a good run”

“Fourth Amendment (Race 6) felt super on Friday but will be up in grade and should be running on again.”

“Classie Linc (Race 7) can be a bit fiery but she has ability and is a chance of making the top three.”

(Race 10) “Katherine’s run was good and she is definitely not out of it either.”

Sunday’s 11-race programme starts at 12.25pm and for Tomlinson it will signal the end of what’s been a busy few weeks right around the South Island.

“I think I’ve only been home for three or four nights – what with the Coast and then Central and now Nelson and Blenheim.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk