By Jonny Turner
Rory McIlwrick has the right book of drives to make an impact as harness racing returns to Gore on Sunday.
McIlwrick combines with a strong line up of horses at the Gore Summer Cup meeting and may have to wait until the last of 11 races for the best of them.
Peroni returned to racing after a freshen up with a powerful win at Ascot Park last week and looks a huge chance of going back-to-back in race 11.
“Peroni certainly did a good job the other day, they ran a good last half and he came over the top of them,” McIlwrick said.
“It was a pretty good run leading into this.”
“I am expecting him to go well.”
Peroni starts from barrier 1 on the second row with his main rival Whata Razzle Dazzle in front of him in barrier 1.
Naturally, his rival’s tactics will be crucial to the Wayne Adams trained pacer’s chances.
“Whata Razzle Dazzle probably dictates our race.”
“If Whata Razzle Dazzle is at the pointy end of things we will have every chance and I would expect him to be quite close.”
McIlwrick combines again with the extremely genuine Miss Bamboocha in race 5.
“She has always gone her best races if you tuck her away and get her to come with one run.”
“She has got a 200m sprint, but it’s not 201m.”
“We have got to hold her up and try to cut a gap through them.”
“She is certainly more than competitive in this field depending on the way things go.”
Miss Bamboocha’s stablemate from the Craig Laurenson barn Cool Idea looks like a big threat in race 7.
The six-year-old is a last start winner and has excellent form on grass.
“Most people know her racing pattern, she gets out there and rolls.”
“If she is on her game she is hard to beat, her best run ever was on the grass when she won her maiden.”
“She either goes or stops.”
McIlwrick reunites with Ngaroma in race 4 after the pacer produced a handy third in his last outing at Ascot Park.
The reinsman hopes the five-year-old is in the mood to run on Sunday.
“He is just one of those horses that has a lot left in the locker.”
“He is not 100% genuine, but we look to put him up on the pointy end and see if he can keep going.”
Airwaves will be a rough hope for McIlwrick in the Gore Summer Cup.
The reinsman also combines with Gentille Alouette in race 1, Father On Down in race 2 and Matai Charlotte in race 3.
