By Jonny Turner
Losing one of her best drives may not spoil Kerryn Tomlinson’s day at Ascot Park on Saturday.
Tomlinson will be unable to reunite with Dont Ask with the trotter retired and scratched from race 8.
The junior driver recently formed a great combination with the mare, trained by Alister Black.
“She would be one of the best trotters I have driven regularly down here,” Tomlinson said.
“She had great manners and good speed, she was a lovely mare to drive.”
Tomlinson isn’t lacking horsepower to work with on Saturday, with the Oamaru reinswoman teaming up with the unbeaten Southside Of Heaven.
The mare will be out to make it four from four for trainer Brent McIntyre in race 9, the All Purpose Engineering/Regent Car Court Mobile Pace.
Starting from barrier 8 won’t be easy for the pair, but Tomlinson is hopeful her charge has the class to overcome the outside of the front line.
“She has to be a very good chance, she has shown she can do work in her races and finish off.”
“She looks very versatile, so hopefully she can work into it from the wide draw.”
“We should have a few options, we can choose when we want to get into it.”
Night Watch looks a solid eachway hope for Tomlinson in race 6, the Stirling Auto Repairs/Regent Car Court Handicap Trot.
Though the junior driver would prefer her mare was off the front line, her 15m handicap looks workable.
“She looks a good eachway chance.”
“She does prefer to be off the front because she is a good beginner and she likes to bowl along in front.”
“Hopefully she can still step away fast and get handy enough.”
Sargent Best looks another solid eachway hope for Tomlinson on Saturday.
The pacer comes into race 5, the Autosure Handicap Pace, on the back of a consistent run of form for trainer Matthew Williamson.
“He hasn’t had a stand for a while but knowing Matty, he will have given him plenty of practice.”
“If he can step away and stay handy he should be a pretty good chance, he’s in good form.”
Tomlinson also combines with Durrant in race 7, the Final Touch/Regent Car Court Mobile Pace, and has also been reasonably consistent recently.
“He hasn’t got the best draw (11) but he has been racing pretty well and he was unlucky last start.”
Tomlinson and Shezza Vinny have been handed an even tougher draw in race 3, the Creation Signs Mobile Pace, with the pair set to start from barrier 14.
