By Michael Guerin
This is the campaign in which Bazooka needs to stand up but trainer Steven Reid isn’t entirely sure tonight’s main pace at Addington will be the moment it happens.
Bazooka resumes after a month away in the Touchdown Rentals Pace (8.55pm) in which he faces barrier 9 in the 1980m mobile but meets few horses with his natural ability.
While Beside Me ($1.85) looked a superstar filly this time last year Bazooka ($3.70) looked an open class horse in the making a year ago.
“To be honest I thought he would have gone further by now,” admits Reid.
“He has real ability but he went through a bit of a flat patch.
“But I was a lot happier with his second at Invercargill last start (behind J T Boe) and he has been very good at the trials since.
“I reckon the next three to six months we will find out what we really have with him.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he went through to the verge of open class but that is up to him now.”
While an open class horse would be winning tonight’s race Reid says the barrier draw does concern him.
“Being his first run in five weeks I am not that fussed about him rushing forward and trying to lead,” he explains.
“I actually think he might be even better driven with a sit anyway but I realise that makes him harder to back.
“I like a bet and I am keen on the horse but to be backing him this week I’d want $4 or $5,” says Reid, somewhat optimistically.
Reid also has a real chance in the $35,000 Majestic Horse Floats Tasman Empress Final (7.56pm) with Nothing But You drawn barrier 1 in the small field.
“She is a mare who has taken time to mature,” explains Reid.
“But she is getting there now. She went two good races at Nelson and I think she will go well again.”
Reid is counting down to the public return of his little superstar pacer Jumal, who was our best juvenile last season.
“He will be back at the trials on February 11,” says Reid.
“I’d say he will have two trials and then resume at Alexandra Park on March 13 and into the Harness Million on March 20.
“I just love this horse and he has come back great. He hasn’t grown much, which always makes you wonder the others will catch up, but he has filled out.
“But he looks really well so I am stoked and can’t wait to get him back.”
