By Jonny Turner
Tom Nally’s harness racing career will take another step forward when he lines up his second runner as a trainer at Ascot Park on Monday.
Rebecca Dale will start for the first time since joining Nally and she’s among a handy book of drives for the junior reinsman.
The five-year-old’s main mission will be to hold out Nally’s regular drive in Better Be Watching who will start favourite after her late-closing fourth at Winton last week.
“I have been happy with Rebecca Dale’s workouts,” Nally said.
“Hopefully this will be a good confidence boosting run for her, if she can get on the back of something and get on the bit and finish off.”
“Better Be Watching looks the horse to beat, but if she has to do too much work from 8 I think I could beat her.”
“My horse looks a good eachway chance.”
Nally teams up with an old favourite in I’m Watching You in race 4 on Monday.
The six-year-old looks ready to strike now that he is down into the rating 35-40 grade.
“I think he’s a good chance, he loves Invercargill, he always seems to win there.”
“He has drawn well (3) and has a bit of gate speed so he should be able to get a good run.”
“He is in that grade that he loves so he looks a pretty good chance.”
Nally also combines with another horse from the Hamish Hunter team in Ledger’s Maid.
Moving into a sweet front row draw looks key for the mare after she struggled from barrier 8 at Winton last week.
“The 1 horse is scratched so she comes into 2.”
“Maverick Star went a good enough race last week and with no horses on the second line I might be able to slot in behind him.”
“If we can do that she could run a place again like she did at Invercargill two starts ago.
Nally also rates Tashs Bad Girl a cheeky hope in race 6.
The mare has been consistent recently, running four placings in her last five starts.
“She has actually got a bit of gate speed and being 1700m I might use it.”
“She has been going good races and if she is handy she would be a chance again.”
Fixed Odds Opening Prices: Rebecca Dale $6.50, Ledger’s Maid $4.50, I’m Watching You $6, Tashs Bad Girl $15.
