By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Paul Nairn will be doing something at Addington Raceway on Friday that he rarely does these days, hope in the sulky.
The trotting maestro has had just 15 raceday drives in the last two seasons, with nearly all of those in his own colours, however, on Friday he will don Regan Todd’s blue and gold silks when he drives Full Of Hope in the SBSR Supported By Harnesslink Trot (2600m).
Nairn trained the mare to one victory from four starts before she transferred to Todd’s care, where she has added a further win to her resume.
Nairn will be out to make it three on Friday and he believes she is a strong chance after her fourth-placing over 2170m at Motukarara Raceway on Sunday.
“I did previously train her,” Nairn said. “One of my staff members got injured, so I couldn’t do them all, so Regan took her over about 12 months ago and he has done a good job with her.
“She looked like she went quite a good race on Sunday at Motukarara. She is usually a good beginner so hopefully she begins well on Friday and she would be a chance in that race you would think.
“The owners rang me the other day just to see if I would like to drive her and I am quite happy too.”
Nairn is well acquainted with the family, having trained her dam, Day Of Reckoning, to five stakes placings, and he stands her sire Waterloo Sunset, after training him to seven victories on the track.
He has been supporting the stallion with several mares each year and he is liking what he is seeing from his early progeny.
One of those horses is Gil Favor, who Nairn trains and will drive in the SBSR Tour Dates 8 & 9 February Contact NZBS Trot (1980m) on Friday.
“I was happy enough with him last week (when finishing fourth). He is a good, honest horse,” Nairn said.
“It is a strong looking field on Friday and he is probably more suited with the standing start, but it’s not a big field, so hopefully he doesn’t get too far back from the start.
“He is the first one I bred by Waterloo Sunset. I have given the stallion a bit of a go and so far they have been quite promising.
“I have got another three-year-old, Tu Tangata, he is about to qualify. He has had a couple of workouts and he is quite promising.”
Looking ahead to autumn racing, Nairn is excited to have Group One winner Habibi Inta back in the barn, as well as Derby bound trotters Outamyway and Bitamuscle.
“Habibi Inta seems all good again, so he is due to start fast work shortly and he will be looking for racing in the autumn,” Nairn said.
In the meantime, Nairn is looking forward to getting back in the bike on Friday.
“I do enjoy driving, it is a lot of fun,” he said.
