By Jonny Turner
Junior driver Sarah O’Reilly will be out to keep up her excellent form in the sulky at Addington on Sunday.
The reinswoman has driven winners at the past three meetings at the Christchurch track and she has four chances to make it four in a row.
Trainer Geoff Dunn’s has been running just as hot as O’Reilly post the COVID 19 lockdown.
The pair are set to form a potent combination when Tiebreaker steps out in race 5.
The 4yr-old comes in to Sunday’s 2600m standing start event for junior drivers after charging in to second behind Team Kiwi for O’Reilly last weekend.
“He has been going some great races lately,” O’Reilly said.
“He should be able to begin pretty smartly and go another good race.”
Tiebreak was also runner up behind Ranger Bomb in his first post-lockdown run.
The pacer, who has had four starts for a win and a placing behind the tapes, will revert to standing start racing on Sunday.
Tiebreaker opened the $3.50 equal fixed odds favourite for Sunday’s race with Arocknatthepark.
O’Reilly is hopeful Yea You hold up from barrier 1 behind the mobile in race 2.
The trotter, trained by her father, Gerard, was second behind the promising Mighty Flying Rocker at Addington last Friday.
“Hopefully, this week he will be able to take advantage of barrier 1,” O’Reilly said.
“He begins pretty well, it is usually after 200m that he can go rough.”
“He should be up there handy.”
Yea You ran fourth, hitting the line nicely behind Makura, in his last start, two days after his second placing.
“He did go two pretty good races last week, especially that mobile race,” O’Reilly said.
Yea You opened the $3.80 fixed odds win favourite with first starter, Time Up The Hill.
Magicol Ideal goes in to race 6 after an unlucky run at Addington last weekend.
The Dean Taylor trained 5yr-old swung sideways and lost ground at the start before being pushed four wide before the turn and finishing sixth.
“He went really well last week, we just got pushed out at the wrong time,” O’Reilly said.
“There was a line of us there for third.”
“He has been racing well, so if he can get in a good position he will be in the finish.”
Magicol Ideal will revert to mobile racing on Sunday, starting from barrier 6.
The pacer opened the $4.80 third favourite for race 6, behind Fun In The Dark and Kayla Maguire
Where Buckskin lands in the running of race 8 for O’Reilly could dictate his winning chances.
The Robert Davis trained 4yr-old is best driven for one run, so is unlikely to be seen looping the field.
“He ran home really well here last weekend and he has been going some good races from bad draws.”
“It just depends how far back he gets because he is a sit sprinter and has to be driven for one run.”
Buckskin opened at a $4.60 fixed odds win price behind first starter, Mossdale Mac.
O’Reilly did not just have her win behind Star Of Timpany at Addington on Friday night to celebrate this weekend.
The reigning New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship winner has been confirmed as one of the 12 drivers that will contest the previously under threat 2020 competition, next month.
