By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk
Trainers Steven Reid and Simon McMullan are hoping they can toast to another victory with Mo Szyslak when he heads to Cambridge Raceway on Thursday for the Dunstan Horsefeeds Mobile Pace (2200m).
The three-year-old son of Sweet Lou was rewarded for his consistency with a win at the Waikato track earlier this month and they believe there are more to come.
“I have been rapt with the way he has been going. He has been a slow maturing horse. I have had a bit to do with the breed, I trained the mother (Mo Cullen),” Reid said.
“He has had steering and racing issues early on in his career. Zac (Butcher, driver) said last start that he has definitely come back a lot stronger this time. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards with him.”
While pleased with his colt’s efforts, Reid believes he has his work cut out for him this week with the rise in grade and second row draw.
“It is a step up in class for him and from the draw (9) it is going to be hard for him to be a winner. He will need the race to go a certain way,” he said.
“I am pretty sure he follows out a horse (Jaccka Cooper) with a bit of gate speed, so if he is three back on the fence at best, he is probably going to be a chance, as long as the gaps present.”
Reid is also hopeful of a good showing from promising two-year-old Rio De Janeiro Blue after his debut placing at Cambridge Raceway earlier this month.
“We were really happy with that run. We didn’t go into it with a lot of expectation,” Reid said.
“He is one of those little horses that gives 100 percent. He didn’t have any luck in the run and sat parked, but he did nothing but try down the straight.
“He seems like he has improved. I don’t know if he can beat Sparky, but I think with just how hard he tries, he will be in the firing line.”
The stable’s final runner of the meeting will be Take The Monarch who will be fresh-up in the Black Dog Furniture Trot (2200m).
“We were disappointed with his two runs last time in, but I had something going through the barn I am just wondering whether that knocked him a little bit,” Reid said.
“We sent him back out and spelled him. He had about 15 days off and he seems bright, but he is probably going to need the run. He hasn’t had any trials, we just decided to chuck him in at the races, so whatever he does he will improve on with the run.”