By Matt Markham
He’s got a few rather large fish to fry on the other side of the Tasman on Saturday night but Ricky May gets a chance to recuperate a few of his expenses for the weekend a little closer to home tonight at Addington.
The Methven horseman will travel to Victoria on Saturday morning to drive Monbet, Mossdale Conner and Quite A Moment on a massive night of harness racing at Melton on Saturday night but the win tally for the weekend should be well underway by the time he gets there.
He has eight drives at the meeting – spearheaded by the talented three-year-old Classie Brigade, but there is a compelling support card of chances including three strong hopes from the stable of his good mate, Laurence Hanrahan.
The Nigel McGrath trained Classie Brigade returns to Canterbury having been seen recently in the North Island.
When last produced he finished fourth behind Chase The Dream in the Dinny Johnstone Waikato Guineas but faces a notable drop in class tonight which is, however, somewhat countered by his outside of the second row barrier draw over the 2600m.
May won’t have to panic with the son of Bettor’s Delight but he will have a close eye on some of his more serious rivals who have also drawn badly, including the unbeaten Buster Brady (one on the second line).
Hanrahan will take four horse down the road from Ashburton tonight including the talented Christopher Banner who resumes.
The Elsu gelding, who has had four starts, has picked a tough race to kick off in but his talents are undeniable and will take him a long way toward going close to winning early in the night.
May and Hanrahan also combine in the opening race of the night with Novak and then team up again in the final event on the card with Awesome Art who looks a big hope from behind the mobile after missing away from her recent stand starts.
Hanrahan’s other runner is Bute Courage who lines up in the same race as Christopher Banner.
One of the other leading chances for May tonight will come in the colours of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.
He jumps aboard talented two-year-old Pacing Major who looks tough to roll from his one barrier draw in the two-year-old event.
The Art Major colt, who finished second on debut to Billy Badger on New Years Eve at Alexandra Park, looks set to lock himself in a battle with his stablemate More Than Better who also finished second in his only race day appearance.
In form pacer Seel The Deal and trotter Everybody Knows round out his chances tonight and both are capable of winning if things go their way.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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