By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Gerard O’Reilly could get his night off on the right note at Addington tonight.
Th Ashburton-based trainer-driver has four drives, starting with Jukebox Gypsy in Race 1, the IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Mobile Pace (5.31pm).
After three seconds in her last four starts the Rock N Roll Heaven four-year-old is well placed, and heavily supported, to get just her second career victory at start number 31.
Drawn 4 over 1980m, she’s currently a $2.15 favourite.
“She’s shown enough gate speed to get across them and then we will take it from there,” says O’Reilly.
“If she can settle handy she’s always finishing her races off well.”
So could tonight be the night?
“Hopefully,” says O’Reilly.
At her last start, at Ashburton on August 31, she was a close second to Oneroa. Third in the same race was the Mark Jones-trained Zoom X who she will meet again tonight. The Bettor’s Delight three-year-old was an eye-catcher after being four back the fence. He’s currently a $4.50 second favourite.
O’Reilly also trains and drives Bettor Be Sharp. He is at big odds ($35) in Race 5, the Chris “Grocer” Griffin Memorial Mobile Pace (7.33pm).
“He’s had a good spell and has come back in good fettle and he’ll keep improving,” says O’Reilly.
“But he’s up in grade now and needs a bit of luck.”
The market is dominated by the Telfer-trained Bettors Anvil ($1.70).
In the night’s feature, the $50,000 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Harness 7000 (8.02pm) another Telfer runner and last start winner Tact Teva is all the rage ($1.80) while O’Reilly will drive Irish Dream for trainer Colin DeFilippi.
“When Bruce Negus qualified him I drove him then and he has always given a good feel,” says O’Reilly, “if he gets a nice run he won’t disgrace himself.”
“He’s another that is still learning.”
And in the last of the night, the Gold Band Taxis Mobile Pace (9.29pm) O’Reilly will drive Swift Major for his brother Kerry.
He was third on debut at Addington on August 22 behind the Dunn-trained Scrunch and Candy Cane.
“He ran home really well a few weeks back,” says O’Reilly, “he’s a big horse and goes near enough and so if he gets a nice run as well he’ll be finishing it off good.”
He’s currently at $10, with the Bob Butt trained and driven Crystal the top pick at $2.10.
