By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
It’s fair to say that no-one knows the Mt Harding race course like Ricky May does.
“It’s right at my backdoor.”
With 10 drives on today’s 11-race programme he heads into the Green Mile meeting at Methven looking to add to an impressive record. He has already had 121 wins there since his first in 1980!
Included are a total eight Green Mile wins – five pacing and three trotting. He drove the two winners in 2017, both in new race records. A G’s White Socks won the pacing event in 1:55.0 while the trotting record was set by Everybody Knows in 1:58.4.
May also won with A G’s White Socks in 2018, Second Wind (2009), Tennis Ball (2010) and Ellmer Hanover (2012) while the other successful trotters were Phil’s Gift (2013) and Monbet (2015).
His drives in today’s Green Miles are Greg and Nine Hope-trained stablemates Enghien ($7) in the Whiteout Festival Trotters Green Mile Mobile Trot at 3.15pm and Homebush Lad ($10) in the Methven 4 Square Supermarket Green Mile Mobile Pace at 3.40pm.
Enghien’s last start was a seventh behind Muscle Mountain in the NZ Trotting Free For All on Grand Prix day at Addington last Sunday.
“He pulled his block off outside the stablemate then, he got too keen.”
Today he takes on the likes of last start winner and grass track specialist Mataderos.
“It looks a pretty even field though Franco Josiah seems a likely leader with his good gate speed.”
“But Mataderos does go pretty good on the grass.”
Enghien is lightly raced on the grass but did win at Geraldine in 2017 and was second in a 2YO race at Methven way back in 2016.
May gets his chance behind Homebush Lad, after regular driver Ben Hope opted for Celtic Spirit, who has impressed with back to back wins and is rated as the $3.50 favourite.
“He’s good on grass too … but I have never driven him before,” May said of Homebush Lad, who was a winner in the Geraldine Cup two starts back and has finished fifth and sixth in the past two Group 3 Methven Cups.
His pick of the day is Jimmy James Maguire in Race 6, the Ray Mayne Hose and Fittings Handicap Pace. Trained by good mate Brendon “Benny” Hill he’s had a win and three placings in his last four starts.
“This is his first standing start but the way he’s been working I’d say he’s the best one.”
And the key to driving well at Methven?
“It’s the same as a lot of tracks these days .. you’ve got to reasonably handy to be in the hunt.”
