By Duane Ranger
Tony Cameron knows all about the ebbs and flows of harness racing, and that’s why he’s happy to keep riding the crest of his current wave at Alexandra Park tonight.
The 29-year-old Ardmore horseman has had three wins in June to go along with the five he had in April. Expect that good vein of form to continue again tonight when Cameron climbs into the sulky five times.
“I’ve started to get a few more drives this year and I feel like I’m driving okay. I feel in good form. I just want to keep on riding the crest of the wave while I can because everyone knows in racing there are highs and lows.
“But my wins this year have pushed me past my career best and I’m rapt with that,” said the Tony Herlihy (MNZM) employee.
Cameron has saluted the judge 14times ($87,696) this season – four more than his previous best season of 10 ($76,627) in 2015-2016. Just two of his wins have been at Alexandra Park.
All up Cameron has now reined home 36 winners and 60 place-getters ($266,350) since taking out his junior licence in 2012. His UDR strike-rate this season is a stunning 0.3003.
He sits third on the North Island Junior Driving Premiership with 14 wins – five behind pace-setter, Dylan Ferguson.
And to add further spice to his good form of late, Cameron was just named in the North island Junior Driving team alongside Ferguson, Jack MacKinnon, Ben Butcher, Robert Argue and Mark Johnson to compete in the New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship at Forbury Park and Addington next month.
The South Island team is Sheree Tomlinson, Katie Cox, Kimberley Butt, John Morrison, Matt Anderson and Rory McIlwrick.
“All I want to do is keep racking up winners and then premierships and Championships will take care of themselves.
“It is encouraging though that more people are recognising my driving. I have been learning from the best for a while now and I am grateful for all the support Tony (Herlihy) and all the other trainers and owners have given me,” Cameron said.
Cameron has five “nice” drives tonight – three of which are behind his boss’s pacers.
His hatrick of victories this month have come behind the Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett trained Princess Mackendon at Alexandra Park on June 9; the Herlihy trained Shadow Pass at Cambridge Raceway on June 8; and the Herlihy trained Bettors Pocket, also at ‘The Park’, on June 2.
Cameron will drive two of those horses again tonight. He’s what he had to say about his quintet.
Race 3: The Tony Herlihy (MNZM) trained Ultimate Angel (9) – “She’s had three runs back this time in and I have driven in all three. She has got a nice feel about her and the draw suits her more than being wide out. Hopefully we can get a run through and get some of it. She’s an honest little filly. Each-way chance here.”
Race 4: The Michelle Wallis & Bernie Hackett trained Makarewa Jake (16) – “He has drawn the back-mark of 20 metres and this will be my first drive behind him. I think he’s an honest old fella who does things right. Place chance.”
Race 6: The Michelle Wallis & Bernie Hackett trained Princess Mackendon (16) – “She’s a nice mare who won well for me last start. I’ve driven her to win a couple of times now, so hopefully it can carry on this week. There are a couple of smart ones in the field but she is capable of figuring thereabouts.”
Race 9: The Tony Herlihy (MNZM) trained Bettors Pocket (6) – “He would probably be my best drive of the night. He is working well and if he can step away from his 10m handicap then I think he could be hard to beat. I’ve driven him to win and place in his last couple of starts and I can see no reason why that good form couldn’t continue in this race. I thought he was a bit of a sprinter at first but he can definitely stay as well. Each-way.
Race 10: The Tony Herlihy (MNZM) trained Gotta Moment (7) – “The 3-year-old -old gelding who is having his first start back (since November 2016). He was favourite when he ran second and he went some nice races in his first campaign. He’s just going to get experience and when he does her will win a few. The draw could have been better but he’s still worth an each-way bet.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
