by Jonny Turner
Methven trainer Mike Heenan heads down the road to Geraldine today having done all he can with his four-horse team.
It is now up to the weather gods to have the final say on exactly how his quartet are placed.
Heenan lines up two grass track specialists in Boyz Invasion and Sisters Delight at today’s Orari meeting.
Sister’s Delight starts from barrier 1 in race 9 and she looks a genuine each way chance.
Heenan’s only concern heading into the event is how much forecast rain will hit the Orari track and how it may hold up.
“We are pretty hopeful she will go good,” the trainer said.
“It is meant to rain until about 11am, so if that happens we are not sure how that will go.”
“She should handle it unless it gets really boggy because she is only a little one.”
“I’d like to think if she gets the run you’d hope she would get from the draw, she would be very hard to beat.”
Boyz Invasion heads into race 8 following a good second placing at Methven last weekend for driver Tony Herlihy.
Heenan jumps back in the cart today and he jokingly says that it will only make about fifteen lengths difference.
“I have been pretty happy with him.”
“His only bad race in his last few was at Reefton, he galloped there but they actually had a false start.”
“He is quite a fractious horse and he got a wee bit stirred up.”
“He is a lovely racehorse, he tries his guts out.”
“Generally speaking he is better if you don’t use him early and that is the way Tony drove him last time.”
“The only thing you are a wee bit reliant on is that they run along a bit in front.”
“If they do that it makes his chances a lot better.”
“But he is a good, tough, genuine ratings horse.”
“I would be pretty hopeful he can go a good race.”
The Heenan stable starts two horses in race 2 in Cosmic Angel and Swift Dream.
Swift Dream rates the stronger of the two chances.
“He has got a wee bit of a future, being seven doesn’t mean anything because I didn’t break him in until he was two or three.”
“I was really pleased with his first few races, he was very good at Oamaru.”
“He would be a rough show.”
Cosmic Angel steps back in company after racing a strong field last weekend.
“Her cheques were all in races that weren’t as strong.”
“At Motukarara it was a much, much stronger field.”
“The field she is racing this time looks more suitable.”
Heenan drives Cosmic Angel with Gerard O’Reilly to drive Swift Dream.
