Racing: Ottley seeking 200th win

Samantha Ottley has experienced the highs and lows of racing this season. Photo by Matt Smith.
Samantha Ottley has experienced the highs and lows of racing this season. Photo by Matt Smith.

There would be a certain touch of symmetry if driver Samantha Ottley could pick up two wins at Forbury Park tonight.

Two victories would mean Ottley would bring up her 200th career win, appropriately at the same track where she claimed her 100th win courtesy of Gogirl Bromac in April 2014.

"I'd love to be able to top the season off. That would be the icing on the cake,'' Ottley said.

This season has created plenty of memories for a Ottley - one bad one, but most of them good.

A race smash at Methven in October left her with a fractured vertebra and a chipped bone in her lower back, but that was a distant memory by the time she produced a perfect drive to steer home Rocker Band to a 4yr-old diamond win at the Harness Jewels last month.

The victory behind Rocker Band was clearly the high water mark of a season which started slowly until she joined Mark Jones' stable in October.

"I started out milling around, not getting much at all,'' Ottley said.

"Then I went to Mark's and he's been unreal, really, putting me on pretty much everything.''

"It's all gone on from there, getting the Jewels win and that.''

So on to tonight, when Ottley has another seven chances to get close to the 200-win mark before steering several drives, including the promising Whittaker, at Addington tomorrow.

Ottley was in the sulky last week to guide Itz Risky Business to his maiden win and will move up into a cosy second-line draw behind likely leader Hurricane Bromac in race 8 tonight.

"We'll be dictated a lot by what he does early,'' Ottley said.

"It's always a big jump to c1s from maidens but in saying that, he did it good last week. He sprinted home nicely and you can only win, can't you?

"He's only had the four race starts, as well, but he's a genuine sort of fella. If he gets a nice run, he'll go a good race again.''

Ottley can sympathise a little with her drive in race 2, Joe Louis. Sharing the same name as the great heavyweight boxer of the 1940s, the 2yr-old hit the canvas with a fall at the Rangiora trials last month before qualifying a week later.

"He's quite a big 2yr-old so he's only going to get better with time, I would say.

"Whatever he does, you would think he is going to improve on, but I think he is going to be fine.''

Glenferrie Classic (race 5) is in for a busy weekend, as she is likely to contest a Breeders Crown heat at Addington tomorrow night, as is Itz Risky Business.

The daughter of Bettor's Delight and Mainland Banner has been in tidy form, but that has been negated by drawing the outside of the front line tonight.

"It's rather annoying, because she's stepping up each time she goes out there. It makes it tough from there, but you never know how it pans out from there,'' Ottley said.

"She's one that takes a wee bit to wind up. Iin her last couple of races she's shown that. It just makes my job a little trickier.''

Perissa is in "no man's land'' with a barrier draw of 6 over 2700m in race 7 and will need a lot of luck.

Ottley said Montmorensy (race 3) was the best chance of her other drives on the night.

 


Tips from the talent

Matthew Williamson:
Mon Archie Way (Race 1, No 2)

Geoff Knight:
Silver Dale (Race 2, No 2)

Nathan Williamson:
Blazing Under Fire(Race 6, No 4)

Graeme Anderson:
Expresso Martini (Race 7, No 8)

Brad Williamson:
Bobbins (Race 3, No 11)

Amber Hoffman:
Mossdale Sue (Race 2, No 4)

 


 

 

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