By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
A tough draw and a big field won’t make it easy but Natives Inferno is well overdue to get back into the winner’s circle at Rangiora today.
The four-year-old son of Love You has only won once in 16 starts but has been a model of consistency of late with three second placings in a row.
Last start, at Rangiora on November 10, Natives Inferno looked the winner only to be nutted late by Mr Love, who charged home from near last.
“I had to go a bit earlier than I wanted last week and was three wide for a bit and then got bombed,” says regular driver Kyle Cameron.
Just days ago Cameron experienced the thrill of winning on one of the sport’s biggest days by guiding $48 outsider Prince Teka to victory at Addington on Show Day.
“He’s a lovely old horse and it was great to get one on a big day.”
Today in Race 7, the Robbie Holmes Stable Trot, a second row draw is the first thing he’ll have to negotiate with Natives Inferno.
“He’s been in mobiles recently so probably won’t rush him from the stand anyway.”
“Hopefully we will get through a few early but he’s going to be coming off the pace which is not easy over 2000m but he is up to most of them in that field.”
Murano, Racey Krusa, Shandon Bells and Holmes’ own horse MM Sunshine all loom as potential threats in a big open field.
“From six on the second row we won’t be handy you wouldn’t think so he’ll have to show some speed at some stage,” says Cameron.
Trained locally at Ashley by Austin Thornton, Natives Inferno’s first and so far only win came at Rangiora just on a year ago.
While Natives Inferno looks like an each way player so too does Buddy Reign, who Cameron drives in race 5, the Ripple Creek Equine Pace for trainer Kevin Musso.
“He’s drawn wide (8) so we will have to play it by ear but he’s in the right race but he may need a bit of luck from that wide draw.”
Cameron’s other drives on the day are Steelintheheel, who he also trains, in Race 2 the Carlton- Standing at Wai Eyre Farm Mobile Trot and another Musso runner Flossy Reigns in race 3, the Andrew Stuart Racing Stables Mobile Pace.
The eight-race programme starts at 3.09pm.
